| November 17, 2006 |
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) was elected this morning to the Conference Vice Chair position by a 124 to 63 majority of her House Republican Colleagues. Granger is the only woman on the new leadership team.
"I am honored and deeply humbled by the overwhelming support of my colleagues. I'm ready to get to work for the Conference to help us regain our majority," said Granger.
Rep. Eric Cantor (VA-07) gave Granger's nominating speech and Reps. Mike Rogers (MI-08) and Todd Tiahrt (KS-04) gave her seconding speeches.
In an address to her colleagues yesterday, Granger said that she was running for leadership with one goal in mind: "getting our majority back." She told her colleagues that as a mother, business owner, former teacher and mayor, her wide-ranging background would serve as an asset to the Conference. Granger, who currently sits on the Deputy Whip team and was NRCC Finance Chair for the 2006 election cycle, noted that she's also been a strong spokeswoman for the Party. She's appeared as a frequent guest on national television and radio shows to discuss a number of important issues, including National Security, Iraq and the War on Terror.
As part of her bid for Conference Vice Chair, Granger proposed setting up a rapid response system by which to get Members important or breaking information within minutes or hours. Granger has experience running a rapid response effort as she chaired the War on Terror team, a rapid response team, during the 109th Congress.
Granger wrote in a letter to her colleagues last week that "Ten years ago I arrived in Washington determined to put principle over politics. I ran on a platform that promised to 'attack problems, not people.' I came to Washington devoted to changing the status quo and challenging America to be an even greater nation. ...Yet [last] Tuesday's vote makes it clear that many people see us not as part of the solution but as part of the problem. We must change that. Before we can reclaim the majority, we must reclaim our party and rededicate ourselves to the timeless principles that will keep America strong and build a brighter future."
"I think most of us understand that we didn't get the job done for the American people the way we needed to, and in response, the American people sent us a message," said Granger, who thinks that Members have since gotten the message and embraced the changes that need to be made. "I think it's safe to say: we got the message. Republicans are ready to move forward and return to the principles that originally put us in the majority. I'm excited to be a part of the team that will lead us there."
Granger serves on the Appropriations Committee and the Defense Appropriations and Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittees. She also serves as a Deputy Majority Whip. Granger is the first and only female Republican to serve in the Texas House delegation. Granger represents the 12th District of Texas and is currently serving her fifth term in Congress.