House Republicans voted Dec. 31 to grant Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young (R-Fla.) special permission to remain chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Defense subcommittee (HAC-D).
Though Young has steered the Pentagon budget-writing panel for longer than allowed under House GOP rules, the Republican Steering Committee voted to grant him a waiver to keep the leadership spot for the next two years.
“At a time of great uncertainty and what I see as instability in the future direction of U.S. defense policy, I believe we need to keep our national security team intact, ready to respond to any threats to our readiness,” Young said Dec. 31 in a statement.
Young also received a term-limits waiver two years ago. There had been questions in the fall about whether House leadership would again allow him to maneuver around the rules for the upcoming two-year term of Congress.
The Florida congressman said he appreciates “the confidence” House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Appropriations Committee (HAC) Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) showed in his ability “to bring before the House good appropriations bills that protect our nation from threats abroad, continue to support our all-volunteer force so they can carry out their missions safely and effectively, and to care for our fallen heroes and their families when they return home, many with injuries from which they will never fully recover.”
Rogers announced on Dec. 31 that the Republican Steering Committee approved the 12 HAC subcommittee chairs for the 113th Congress, which starts Thursday, Jan. 3.
“Each and every one of these hard-working members is committed to reducing our deficits, helping Americans get back to work, and ensuring a sound financial future,” Rogers said in a statement.
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) will again chair the HAC’s Energy and Water Development panel and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) sill keep the Commerce, Justice, and Science gavel. Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) will take over chairmanship of the Homeland Security subcommittee, which had been steered by Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.).
Like Young, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) also received a special waiver from his House colleagues allowing him to bypass term-limits and continue chairing the House Budget Committee.
Young chaired the HAC-D from 1995 to 1998 and 2005 to 2006. He then served as the panel’s ranking Republican from 2007 to 2010, under Democratic control of the House, and then as chairman again from 2011 to now in the GOP-led chamber.