Changes to the House Education and Labor Committee

June 10, 2009 — Yesterday, the House Republican Steering Committee selected Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) as the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. Rep. McKeon takes the spot of Rep. John McHugh who resigned last week because of his nomination to serve as Army Secretary.

Rep. McKeon had served as the ranking member of the Education and Labor Committee and chaired the committee during the 109th Congress. Rep. McKeon will continue to serve as the ranking member until a replacement is announced.

According to reports, a number of Republican members have indicated an interest in the ranking member post including Reps. Tom Petri (R-WI), Michael Castle (R-DE), Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Rep. John Kline (R-MN). The Steering Committee is expected to make a decision in the next week or so.

The Education and Labor Committee will have the major task of dealing with the budget reconciliation, which allows for moving of the Pell Grant program to a mandatory program and merging of the Direct Lending program and Federal Family Education Loan program into a single program. Additionally, the committee will have to consider the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act and the No Child Left Behind Act (Elementary and Secondary Education Act).