WASHINGTON - Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) issued the following statement after being reelected by Members of the House Republican Steering Committee to serve as Lead Republican of the House Appropriations Committee.
“It is an honor to have served on the Committee for more than two decades now, and I am once again humbled by the support of my colleagues to continue serving as the Committee’s Lead Republican.
“Two years ago, I set out to reform the Appropriations Committee into one that prioritizes Members and delivers results for the American people. I am proud to say that we have done that by increasing transparency, uniting our Conference, holding the Democrats accountable for their partisan agenda, and ensuring taxpayer money is being used responsibly.
“Our Committee plays a vital role in advancing Republican priorities in the Minority, and I look forward to again working alongside my colleagues in the House and Senate to advance conservative values in the 117th Congress, highlighting our Commitment to America.”
BACKGROUND
A leader in national defense and global security, Rep. Kay Granger serves and fights for the 12th congressional district of Texas. Elected to her 13th term this year by an overwhelming margin, Kay has earned her reputation in Congress as a hard-working, tough, and principled leader on the issues that matter most to the people she serves. Her legislative prowess and ability to get things done, widely respected by both policy makers and influencers in Washington alike, led to her recognition by CQ’s Roll Call as one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Congress.
The first Republican woman to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives, Granger was chosen by her colleagues to serve as Ranking Member of the Committee in the 116th Congress. As the Lead Republican on the Committee, she is responsible for advocating for Republican Members and working with House leadership, the Senate, and the White House to ensure the priorities of the American people are funded.
Before becoming Ranking Member, Granger served as Chairwoman of the powerful Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, which handles over 50 percent of all Appropriations Committee funding. As Chairwoman, Kay was committed to rebuilding America’s military and taking care of our service members and their families, making it her top priority to address the readiness crisis in our military and reverse the harmful, arbitrary budget cuts to our nation’s defense. In these dangerous times, Kay understands that for our country to be safe, we must be strong.
To promote global security, Kay also served as Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee. In this role, she oversaw State Department and security programs abroad where she insisted on transparency and accountability including in the probe on the attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi. She has also been a champion for the Israeli missile defense systems, which help protect the State of Israel from constant threats it faces from adversaries in the region. Her staunch support of Israel and strengthening the U.S.–Israel relationship led her to be recognized for her role in helping get the 10-year, $38 billion memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries completed in 2016.