Edwards appointed to powerful House Appropriations Committee

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards today announced that he has received an appointment to the powerful House Appropriations Committee, a rare assignment for a first-term lawmaker.

The House Appropriations Committee is widely considered one of the most influential committees in the House of Representatives, as it holds the power of the purse and is responsible for all congressional expenditures. Its members usually sit on no other committees.

To date, Edwards has served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure, Budget, and Oversight and Accountability committees. His appointment comes after the retirement of 10-year U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-02) who had served on the committee.

Edwards will be the only North Carolina House member - Republican or Democrat - on the committee, and will become the first North Carolina House Republican to serve on the committee since former Western North Carolina Congressman Charles Taylor.

Members of the House Republican Steering Committee - led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, and including Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger (TX-12) and other House leadership members and committee chairmen - selected Edwards to serve on the panel.

“I am truly honored that my House colleagues looked at my business background and experience in the North Carolina Senate and saw that I could contribute in this significant way in Washington,” said Edwards. “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.”

Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger said, “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.”

“I congratulate my good friend and fellow North Carolinian, Rep. Chuck Edwards, for earning a coveted seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee,” said Congressman 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.”

The appointment will be ratified by the House Republican Conference and voted on by the House during the week of November 27.