WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL) today was appointed to the House Committee on Appropriations. The Republican Steering Committee selected Bonner to fill the vacancy created when former U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker (R-MS) was appointed to the Senate following the resignation of Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS). Immediately following his appointment to the committee, Bonner made the following remarks:
“I am extremely gratified – and obviously deeply humbled – by the confidence of the members of the Steering Committee.
“This appointment to the House Appropriations Committee means even more to me when you take into account the many outstanding colleagues the Steering Committee had from which to choose. Just being considered along with friends like Tom Cole, Henry Brown, Dave Reichert, Marilyn Musgrave, Jeff Flake, and Mike Turner has been an honor in itself.
“The current earmark process has become a symbol of a broken Washington. I sought this seat on the Appropriations Committee because I believe the time for change and reform – especially of the appropriations process and the much scrutinized subject of earmarks – is now. My first priority as a member of the committee will be to serve as a vigilant guardian of the taxpayers’ money, helping to expose and eliminate wasteful or questionable spending. Towards that end, I have strongly supported the efforts of House Republican leadership to reform the current earmark process and eliminate wasteful spending.
“I support my leaders’ call for a moratorium on all earmarks while a bipartisan select committee identifies ways to eliminate pork barrel spending. Speaker Pelosi has the power to bring the earmark process to an immediate halt. Until she does, I will use my seat on this committee to ensure there is full accountability and transparency on the Appropriations Committee in the spending decisions it makes.
“By entrusting me with this position, the Steering Committee has charged me with helping to reform the earmark process and restoring fiscal credibility to Washington. I won’t let them down.”
Following his appointment, Ranking Member Jerry Lewis (R-CA) said, “My good colleague Jo Bonner is known for his knowledge and understanding of how the federal government works and how we can get the most efficiency with the least expenditures of the American taxpayers’ dollars. I am convinced that he will be a valuable member of the Appropriations Committee and look forward to working with him in our efforts to rein in wasteful spending in all federal agencies.”
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