Washington, DC—Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) announced today that she has been named Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee for the 115th Congress.  This subcommittee oversees more than 50 percent of total House Appropriations Committee funding.

“I am honored to be asked to serve as Chairwoman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee,” Granger said. “Much of my work in Congress has focused on national security and foreign policy.  So I am ready to go to work on Day One.  The challenges facing our nation are serious—terrorism remains a global threat and our military has been reduced during the Obama years.  To be safe, we must be strong.  I will work with my colleagues to rebuild America’s military.  Now is the time to invest in our military and ensure it is stronger than ever.”

Granger has long been recognized for her leadership on national security and foreign policy.

As a Freshman from 1997-1999, Granger served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Budget Committee.  In 1999, she was selected to serve on the Appropriations Committee. During her time on the committee she has served as Vice Chair of the Military Construction Subcommittee, and most recently as Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Committee.  She has also served on the Defense Subcommittee including four years as Vice Chair.  In 2001 in the aftermath of 9-11, she was chosen to serve on the newly created House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee.

Granger brings a wealth of experience to her new job.  In her role as State and Foreign Operations Chairwoman, she oversaw the State Department where she insisted on transparency and accountability including in the probe on the attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi.

As Vice Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, she worked closely with Chairman Frelinghuysen to provide for our national security under the current budget constraints. 

And in 2014, she was asked by House Leadership to chair the Congressional task force that dealt with the border refugee crisis.

As a result of her work in national security and foreign policy, Granger has been the recipient of numerous national security awards over the years, including:

• The Navy Distinguished Public Service Award awarded by the Secretary of the Navy;

• The Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service awarded by the Secretary of the Army;

• The Semper Fidelis Award presented by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation;

• The US Global Leadership Coalition Award presented by the US Global Leadership Coalition;

• The Henry M. Scoop Jackson Distinguished Service Award presented by the Jewish Institute of National Security Affairs;

• And she was chosen by then-Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to receive the first “Global War on Terrorism” coin.