Three House members from Inland Empire get seats on powerful Appropriations Committee
The Inland Empire will have broad representation on the House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for allocating the federal budget.
Three representatives from San Bernardino and Riverside counties will sit on the committee during the 116th Congressional session, Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Redlands, Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona and Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona.
On Thursday, Jan. 16, Aguilar, who represents the 31st Congressional District, announced his selection as the committee's Vice Chair.
"I'm confident that these positions will allow me to continue to advocate for the priorities of the Inland Empire, including making meaningful investments to our national defense, cybersecurity, infrastructure and housing," Aguilar said in a news release from his office.
This is Aguilar's second term on the committee, but his first in a leadership role.
He also will serve on subcommittees for Defense; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; and Homeland Security.
In addition to his committee roles, Aguilar will serve as Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and Whip of the New Democrat Coalition.
The 31st District represents all or parts of all or parts of San Bernardino, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga, Colton, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, Colton, Fontana and Upland.
Calvert, who represents the 42nd Congressional District, was named Ranking Member of the appropriation's subcommittee on Defense, on which he has served since 2011, according to a new release from his office Tuesday, Jan. 15.
U.S. Congressman Ken Calvert of California's 42nd District talks with Santa Rosa Charter School's Executive Director Laura Badillo during a tour in Menifee Thursday, Apr.20, 2017. (File photo by Frank Bellino, ,The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Calvert said his priorities align with the Department of Defense and "the imperative that we not lose momentum in rebuilding our military. The last two years have done much to course-correct eight years of a budget-driven strategy, but we still have much more to do to improve readiness; provide U.S. servicemembers with the best equipment possible; and ensure we maintain superiority on land, sea, and air."
Calvert has served on the Appropriations Committee since 2009. He is also one of three appropriations liaisons to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
The 42nd District includes Corona, Norco, Eastvale, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Menifee, Murrieta and part of Temecula.
Torres, who represents the 35th Congressional District, is a newcomer to Appropriations.
Among her top priorities are to bring "much needed federal resources to expand the Gold Line, improve the modernization of Ontario Airport, promote affordable housing programs and ensure California gets its fair share of federal dollars for road improvements," Torres said in a news release.
Torres will also serve on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; State, Foreign Operations; and Financial Services and General Government subcommittees. Torres also serves on the House Committee on Rules.
Congresswoman Norma Torres talks to students before a forum for DACA students at Cal Poly Pomona February 22, 2018. (Photo by Tom Zasadzinski/Cal Poly Pomona)
The 35th District includes Pomona, Fontana, Ontario, Montclair and part of Chino and Rialto.
Established in 1865, the committee is responsible for appropriating federal funding. In the 116th Congress, the committee is comprised of 30 Democrats and 23 Republicans and organized into 12 subcommittees.
Source: Sandra Emerson