| July 14, 2005 |
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) today announced the appointment of Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) to one of the two much-coveted open seats on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Granger will be the first woman--Republican or Democrat--to serve on the Defense Subcommittee, which directs roughly half of the Appropriations Committee’s total annual budget.
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“I am extremely pleased to have Kay as the newest member on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee,” said Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis. “Kay brings a wealth of defense knowledge and her perspective as the first female subcommittee member will be invaluable.”
Granger is a former member of House Armed Services Committee and has served on the House Appropriations Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee for six years. The Congresswoman is a former Mayor of Ft. Worth--a major defense community with the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Bell Helicopter Textron and many other defense companies that work on important military programs all based there--and also co-chairs the Iraqi Women’s Caucus. Granger recently returned from Jordan where she led a congressional delegation to help train Iraqi women candidates for the Iraq election. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert appointed Granger to the Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors earlier this year and House Majority Whip Roy Blunt asked her to co-chair the Defense Aerospace Working Group that began in the winter of 2003/2004.
“I am very excited about being asked to serve on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and am honored that Chairman Lewis has placed his faith in me,” said Congresswoman Granger. “Given the current times, there is no issue of more importance than ensuring our country is safe against terrorist threats and that our military has all the resources it needs to win the war on terrorism. I am looking forward to working with Chairman Lewis and my fellow subcommittee members to undertake this important task.”
In 2003, Texas accounted for 10.6 percent of total active military personnel nationwide, with 228,737 military personnel located in Texas. The state of Texas ranks third among all states, only behind California and Virginia, in total number of active military and civilian personnel.
Other members of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee include: C. W. Bill Young, (R-FL), Norman D. Dicks, (D-WA), David L. Hobson, (R-OH), Martin Olav Sabo, (D-MN), Henry Bonilla, (R-TX), Peter J. Visclosky, (D-IN), "Duke" Cunningham, (R-CA), James P. Moran, (D-VA), Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, (R-NJ), Todd Tiahrt, (R-KS), Roger F. Wicker, (R-MS), Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA).
Granger was also reappointed to the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee. Granger is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives’ leadership, serving as a Deputy Whip.
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