Newly-elected members of Congress from western Pennsylvania will hold seats on some of the higher-profile committees in their respective chambers.
Then-Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman addresses supporters during an event in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, 10/27/22 (Capital-Star photo by Ethan Dodd).
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee D-12th District, has been appointed to the House Oversight and Accountability committee, and the Science, Space and Technology committee. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., will be on the Senate’s Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; and Environment and Public Works committees.
“For too long, our government has put profit over people–the priorities of the rich and powerful over the working class. If we want a government that truly delivers justice for all, we’ve got to unrig the system,” Lee said in a statement. “I’m honored to join the powerful House Oversight and Accountability Committee, where I’ll fight corruption, expose corporate greed, and go toe to toe with white supremacist super-villains trying to exploit your tax dollars to peddle hate-for-profit.”
But Democrats are in the minority in the House, and in addition to U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-10th District, the oversight committee includes some of the GOP’s most far-right members, including Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Paul Gosar of Arizona, and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.
The panel’s chairperson, U.S. Rep. James Comer, of Kentucky, has already signaled he intends to investigate President Biden’s son Hunter over business dealings, and has called the new committee the “most exciting” of the new Congress.
The Senate Agriculture Committee oversees negotiation of the Farm Bill, and the banking committee has oversight over housing policy, regulation of financial institutions, and the Federal Reserve.
The Environmental and Public Works Committee has jurisdiction over clean air and water, pollution, infrastructure and the U.S.. highway system.
“Agriculture is a huge economic driver in Pennsylvania, and I’m excited to keep fighting for our farmers and their families,” Fetterman said in a statement. “On the Banking Committee, I am going to protect consumers and take on corporate greed. And on Environment and Public Works, I’ll work to ensure we keep our environment clean and our highways, roads, and bridges well-maintained.”
Fetterman will also serve on the Joint Economic Committee and the Special Committee on Aging.
