Peter Roskam, a conservative lawmaker from Illinois, will be chairman of the subcommittee on tax policy ahead of a major Republican effort to pass tax reform this year.
Roskam, who has represented a Chicago-area district since 2007, previously was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s oversight subcommittee but will take over the tax panel this year. Last year, it was headed by Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany, who left office to pursue an unsuccessful Senate run.
Rep. Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced the subcommittee posts Friday afternoon.
The committee is involved in writing legislation with the stated intention of passing it this year. Last year, Brady and House Speaker Paul Ryan outlined the basic plans for the reform, including cutting tax rates, eliminating deductions and loopholes, reforming the Internal Revenue Service, and changing the way businesses are taxed to prevent offshoring and corporate inversions.
Roskam, who has been mentioned in reports as a possible contender for House GOP leadership, will be one of several lawmakers involved in adding details to that blueprint.
As Republicans also gear up to try to repeal and replace Obamacare, Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, will be chairman of the health subcommittee.
Texas Rep. Sam Johnson, who last year introduced an aggressive plan for reforming Social Security’s finances, will continue to head the panel on Social Security. Johnson on Friday announced his intention to retire at the end of the current Congress.
