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Defense policy analysis, commentary and discussion.Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) will stay on to co-chair the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee in the 112th Congress, outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Thursday.
Miller and DeLauro, close allies of Pelosi, already have exceeded the two-term limit in Caucus rules for serving as the leaders of the Steering and Policy panel. A band of moderate Democrats made an unsuccessful push last month to amend the rules so that the chairmen would be elected by the entire Caucus rather than appointed by the Speaker or Minority Leader. Instead the Caucus amended the rules so that the chairmen would be selected by the other members of the Steering and Policy Committee.
Reps Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) will serve as the group’s vice chairs.
The Steering and Policy Committee, which recommends committee assignments and committee leaders, is expected to begin meeting in the coming days to hear presentations from Democrats seeking top spots on panels in the next Congress.
Its membership also includes 12 regionally selected Members, 13 lawmakers appointed by Pelosi, party leaders, a representative of the freshman class and the ranking members of committees.
“With the talent and dedication of our distinguished Members serving on the Steering Committee, House Democrats stand ready to continue fighting for the middle class and creating jobs in the 112th Congress,” Pelosi said in a statement.“I look forward to working with the Steering Committee, the Democratic Caucus, and with the Republican Majority to address the needs of the American people and the challenges facing our nation in a bipartisan way.”
Pelosi announced that her picks for the panel would be Reps Robert Andrews (N.J.), Bruce Braley (Iowa), Kathy Castor (Fla.), Mike Doyle (Pa.), Keith Ellison (Minn.), Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.), Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), Gwen Moore (Wis.), Jared Polis (Colo.), Collin Peterson (Minn.), Allyson Schwartz (Pa.) Jackie Speier (Calif.) and Tim Walz (Minn.).
The regionally selected representatives, which were picked earlier this week by lawmakers in each of the regions, are Linda Sánchez (Calif.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Betty McCollum (Minn.), Bobby Rush (Ill.), Rick Larsen (Wash.), Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas), Heath Shuler (N.C.), John Barrow (Ga.), Jim Moran (Va.), Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.) and Niki Tsongas (Mass.).
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