Senator Mitch McConnell Named to Senate Committee Leadership Roles

After stepping down as U.S. Senate Republican Leader this month, Senator Mitch McConnell was named chair of the Senate Rules Committee and chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on Thursday.

Senator Mitch McConnell released the following statement regarding his new roles:

“America’s national security interests face the gravest array of threats since the Second World War. At this critical moment, a new Senate Republican majority has a responsibility to secure the future of U.S. leadership and primacy. I intend to play an active role in this urgent mission as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and I look forward to working closely with incoming Chair Susan Collins to accomplish our shared goal.

“The Senate Rules Committee will also have important work to accomplish in the 119^th Congress, and I look forward to leading it as Chairman. Defending the Senate as an institution and protecting the right to political speech in our elections remain among my longest-standing priorities. Ranking Member Deb Fischer has done an outstanding job advancing these causes, and I know she will remain a key partner in the committee’s ongoing work.”

As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, he will influence policy that strengthens the nation’s foreign affairs and foreign leadership, a key priority he shared during the Kentucky Chamber’s Public Affairs Forum in October.

The Senate Rules Committee oversees a broad range of responsibilities essential to the functioning of the U.S. Senate. These include managing the Senate’s procedural rules, overseeing the administration and maintenance of congressional buildings, and assessing the credentials and qualifications of Senate members. Additionally, the committee plays a role in resolving contested Senate elections.

Stay tuned to The Bottom Line for updates.