House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) will take on a powerful role as the next chairman of the Appropriations Committee after the GOP Steering Committee elected him to the position on Tuesday night.
The Oklahoma congressman will succeed outgoing Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX), who announced that she was stepping down from her leadership position following the passage of the fiscal 2024 appropriations bills.
In a statement celebrating his appointment, Cole thanked Granger for her mentorship and leadership on the committee.
“There is substantial work to be done, and I care deeply about our mission,” Cole said. “I will be utilizing my expertise and years of service on this Committee to responsibly guide us forward and fight for conservative, Republican priorities.
“I look forward to hitting the ground running tomorrow and am committed to engaging with the entire Conference to deliver the necessary appropriations bills in a timely manner,” the congressman added. “Everything I do will be in pursuit of fulfilling our fiscal commitments no matter the obstacles we face.”
Cole will inherit the difficult task of working to pass the next batch of appropriations bills for 2025 after completing the 12 appropriations bills for 2024 proved to be a difficult task for House Republicans.
The Oklahoma Republican had pushed back against calls from fellow Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), who wanted to delay the selection of the next chairman, saying it was time to “remove the uncertainty.”
Aderholt had sparked rumors that he might seek to challenge Cole for the chairmanship over the last few weeks, releasing a “Dear Colleague” letter and an op-ed that called for reforms to the appropriations process. However, he announced Tuesday ahead of the steering committee meeting that he would not run against Cole.
“The Congressman is not seeking the chairmanship,” Carson Clark, a spokesman for Aderholt, said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “But he did see the vacancy as an opportunity to voice his concerns and also his ideas of how the appropriations process can be reformed. It needs to work better for members and ultimately the taxpayers in our country.”
In announcing Cole’s appointment on Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced that Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) will be tapped to lead the Rules Committee.
“I look forward to working with them to advance our agenda,” the speaker said.
Granger said she was “pleased” that Cole was selected to replace her.
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“He has served in various leadership positions on the Committee, including as Chair of two of the largest subcommittees,” Granger said. “He has proven himself to be a fierce advocate for life and a strong national defense. And most importantly, he is a true statesman — reasonable yet unwavering in his principles. There is no one better to lead the Committee than Tom.”
Cole’s chairmanship confirmation will be ratified by the House on Wednesday.
