Brindisi, Lamb recommended for Armed Services, Transportation Committees

Reps. Anthony Brindisi (D-N.Y.) and Conor Lamb (D-Penn.) were recommended for new committee assignments Tuesday.

The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee recommended Brindisi for the Armed Services Committee and Lamb for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The two filled slots left vacant by the resignation of Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.) and the death of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), respectively. 

{mosads}“On behalf of House Democrats, it is an honor to welcome these outstanding Members of Congress to join these two vital committees,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement. “Congressman Anthony Brindisi and Congressman Conor Lamb have demonstrated strong leadership, proven experience and bold vision that will be essential as we continue to honor our responsibility to advance progress for American families.”

“Whether working to ensure our brave men and women in uniform have the resources they need to succeed or advancing innovative, forward-looking solutions to rebuild our infrastructure in a green, modern, job-creating way, these hard-working Members will bring their voices and values to deliver on our promises For The People.”

The prominent committee assignments could help boost Brindisi and Lamb, two freshman congressman who flipped Republican-held seats last year, in what are expected to be tight reelection races in 2020.

The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee still have to recommend two members of Congress for the two vacancies left by Cummings and Hill on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The race to replace Cummings, who chaired the powerful panel until his death, is anticipated to be competitive, particularly as the House ramps up its impeachment investigation. 

Reps. Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.), Stephen Lynch (Mass.), Gerry Connolly (Va.) and Jackie Speier (Calif.) have all started courting fellow Oversight members and members of the Steering Committee, which eventually will make a recommendation to the full caucus about who should fill the job on a permanent basis. Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.) has also been approached about running for the job.

Freshman members of the House Democratic delegation will also have to meet to pick a replacement for Hill as their representative on the leadership team to serve as a liaison between new members and the upper echelons of the caucus.

Reps. Susie Lee (Nev.), Veronica Escobar (Texas), Mikie Sherrill (N.J.) and Lauren Underwood (Ill.) all running for the role.