Rep. Ruppersberger leaves Armed Services panel

His spokeswoman, Jaime Lennon, said that Ruppersberger knew
Barber was interested in serving on Armed Services, and that the Maryland Democrat is
hopeful that he will be able to return to his seat on the Appropriations
Committee in the next Congress, where he still retains his seniority.

{mosads}Five House Democrats, including Ruppersberger, lost
their seats on the powerful Appropriations panel after Democrats lost the
majority in the 2010 elections.

Barber, who was sworn in last week, won a special election
to replace Giffords after she stepped down in January to focus on her recovery
from the 2011 Tucson shooting.

Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) welcomed
Barber to the committee last week in a statement.

“His predecessor, Rep.
Giffords, was a valuable and hard working member of this committee. I know Ron
Barber will take up that role as well,” McKeon said.