The House Republican Steering Committee announced its recommended committee chairmen for the 114th Congress on Wednesday and U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., will continue to preside over the Veterans Affairs Committee. Miller is the only congressman from Florida who will chair a major committee.
Miller had been angling to lead the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence but that post went to U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif. First elected to Congress in 2000, Miller rose to become chairman of the Veteran Affairs Committee in the Republican takeover after the 2010 elections. Miller has appeared more in the national spotlight in recent months as the VA department has been rocked by revelations that medical facilities altered waiting lists with at least 40 veterans dying in the Phoenix area as they waited for treatment.
Despite his higher profile in recent months, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, tapped Nunes over Miller and other contenders.
“Today we face a sophisticated and determined terrorist enemy that is intent on killing more and more Americans, not to mention innocents around the globe,” said Boehner on Wednesday. “We also face rogue states like Iran and North Korea that continue to thumb their noses at the United States. The world is becoming increasingly dangerous and the Intelligence Committee is vital to our efforts to protect the American people. Over the past four years, Devin has been instrumental in ensuring that our intelligence professionals have the resources they need to keep America safe. He has asked tough questions and conducted serious oversight to hold the Obama administration accountable. I look forward to working with him as the next chairman of the Intelligence Committee.”
Miller was the only Florida Republican to get a major chair. Other newly recommended Republican congressmen chairing committees and chairs appointed by Boehner are: Candice Miller of Michigan at Administration; Mike Conway of Texas at Agriculture; Hal Rogers of Kentucky at Appropriations; Mac Thornberry of Texas at Armed Services; Tom Price of Georgia at Budget; John Kline of Minnesota at Education and the Workforce; Fred Upton of Michigan at Energy and Commerce; Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania at Ethics; Jeb Hensalring of Texas at Financial Services; Ed Royce of California at Foreign Affairs; Michael McCaul of Texas at Homeland Security; Bob Goodlatte of Virginia at Judiciary; Rob Bishop of Utah at Natural Resources; Jason Chaffetz of Utah at Oversight and Government Reform; Pete Sessions of Texas at Rules; Lamar Smith of Texas at Science, Space, and Technology; Steve Chabot of Ohio at Small Business; Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania at Transportation and Infrastructure; and Paul Ryan of Wisconsin at Ways and Means.
“Let me offer my heartfelt congratulations to my colleagues, all of whom have my utmost trust and confidence,” Boehner said on Wednesday. “These lawmakers understand that we have big challenges ahead, and the opportunity to do some great things in the new American Congress. I know they will set high standards of oversight, foster input and contributions from both the majority and the minority, and produce solutions worthy of the people we serve.”
Democrats fired back that Boehner was making Congress an “old boys club” as no women took over new committees.
“Republicans promised to be more welcoming to women – but passed over women to give every single new committee chairmanship to a white man,” said Emily Bitner, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). House Republicans have erased any doubt about the course they’ll take in the next session, as their party becomes more insular and more out-of-touch with the diverse middle class, and women in particular. With a leadership team that looks like an episode of “Mad Men,” we can expect House Republicans will continue their assault on women’s health and continue to block economic progress for women on issues like equal pay.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
