The House Republican Steering Committee is swiftly moving to consider a new chair for the influential House Appropriations Committee following Rep. Kay Granger’s resignation last month.
Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who leads the subcommittee responsible for housing and transportation programs, is running unopposed for Granger’s seat and is backed by several conservatives.
Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma (Credits: KOSU)
Cole has already begun discussing the changes he hopes to implement and emphasized the importance of completing the work efficiently. However, due to the current pace of appropriations work and the upcoming election cycle, he anticipates the likelihood of needing to pass another stopgap measure in September.
While Cole acknowledges the political dynamics surrounding election years, he prefers to complete business before the end of the calendar year to avoid disadvantaging the next Congress. He also notes that despite changes in administration, the final appropriations bill tends to be bipartisan, given the Senate’s requirement to reach a 60-vote threshold.
Rep. Tom Cole (Credits: PBS)
The House Appropriations Committee conducted several hearings before the recess last month in preparation for fiscal year 2025. Granger, in her announcement of stepping down as chair, cited the impact of upcoming elections on appropriations battles and emphasized the importance of a seamless transition before the fiscal year 2025 bill development.
However, not all members of the Steering Committee share the same approach. Rep. Robert Aderholt, who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for Health and Human Services and Labor, suggests that Republicans should first agree on a broader spending bill strategy before selecting a new chair.
