WASHINGTON—The Democratic Caucus has unanimously approved a waiver allowing U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy of Winter Park, Fla., to serve on both the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Armed Services Committee (HASC). Murphy, a former national security specialist at the Pentagon, previously served on HASC during her first term in office. In her second term, she left HASC to serve on Ways and Means, an “exclusive” committee whose Members typically do not serve on other committees. Murphy successfully sought a waiver to return to HASC this Congress, while also continuing to serve on Ways and Means. She will be the only Florida Democrat on HASC.
“Our country faces many threats, from foreign and domestic terrorists; to authoritarian countries like China, Russia, and Iran; to existential challenges like pandemic disease and climate change,” said Murphy. “I will use my seat on the House Armed Services Committee to help America combat these threats, to further strengthen Florida’s position as one of the most defense-friendly states in the nation, and to support our service members, veterans, and military families.”
Murphy’s membership on HASC will be especially beneficial to Florida, which is home to over 20 military bases and three combatant command headquarters, namely Central Command, Southern Command, and Special Operations Command. Nearly 135,000 Department of Defense personnel—uniformed and civilian—reside in Florida, and defense spending accounts for approximately 915,000 jobs throughout the state. Florida has the third-highest veteran population of any state.
In the 117th Congress, Murphy will continue to serve on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over Medicare, Social Security, revenue, trade, and vital worker and family support programs like unemployment insurance.
Murphy also serves in two key leadership positions in the 117th Congress. Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn appointed Murphy as a Chief Deputy Whip, helping ensure that legislation that comes to the House floor reflects the views of the entire Democratic caucus. As Chief Deputy Whip, Murphy also has a seat on the powerful House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which helps shape the House policy agenda. Additionally, Murphy will serve a second consecutive term as the lead co-chair for the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of pragmatic Democrats who focus on fiscal responsibility, strong national security, and bipartisan cooperation.
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