RALEIGH — Freshman Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC-11) was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee, marking a rare instance in which a freshman lawmaker joined the powerful panel.
Members of the House Republican Steering Committee – led by new House Speaker Mike Johnson, and including Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and other House leadership members and committee chairs – selected Edwards over a number of other potential members.
Edwards’ primary committee assignments to this point had been on the House Transportation and Infrastructure, Budget, and Oversight and Accountability committees. His appointment comes after Utah Rep. Chris Stewart’s resignation.
“I am truly honored that my House colleagues looked at my business background and experience in the N.C. Senate and saw that I could contribute in this significant way in Washington,” said Edwards in a statement. “I am also proud to be following in the footsteps of former Congressman Charles Taylor to use this position to help make a difference for Western North Carolina. I have always said we need to bring more of NC to DC, and I plan to do that in this role.”
Former Rep. Charles Taylor, a Republican who also represented the 11th District until 2006, was the last North Carolina member of Congress on the committee.
The House Appropriations Committee is known as one of the “A” committees, and one of the most influential in the chamber. Appropriations members directly hold the power of the purse and are responsible for all congressional expenditures. A total of 53 members currently sit on the Appropriations Committee.
“I congratulate my good friend and fellow North Carolinian, Rep. Chuck Edwards, for earning a coveted seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee,” said Republican Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-09), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. “This is a big deal for the people of North Carolina because we finally have a voice on the committee that decides how tax dollars are spent.”
“I welcome Chuck to the committee and very much look forward to working with him. His common sense approach and background as both a state appropriator and businessman will be valuable in our effort to responsibly fund the federal government,” said the committee’s chair, Texas Republican Rep. Kay Granger.
In his tenure in the N.C. Senate, Edwards chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee in addition to four other committee chairmanships.
The appointment is expected to be made official when the House returns to session next week.
