Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Pelosi Appoints Latino Lawmaker to President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Wednesday, appointed Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA) to serve on President Obama’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.  The nine-term member joins fellow Democrats, Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt, and Energy and Commerce Committee member Jan Schakowsky to complete the 18 member bipartisan commission.

In addition to serving as a senior member of the powerful Committee on Ways and Means, which is responsible for tax, Social Security, Medicare, trade and income security laws, Becerra is also part of the House leadership structure.  As Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus he is tasked with helping to set priorities and drive the legislative decision making process.

Upon being appointed to the Commission, Becerra said he was honored “that the Speaker has entrusted me with this important assignment.”  He went on to elaborate, saying “It is time for us to put America back on track, and take responsibility for the tough choices we must make to build a prosperous, debt-free future for our children. We made great progress this week by enacting legislation that drives down the deficit and delivers an improved health insurance system to the American people.”

The President established the fiscal commission by executive order more than a month ago appointing co-chairmen Erskine Bowles, the former Clinton White House chief of staff, and former Republican Wyoming Senator Alan K. Simpson, to lead the effort.

http://becerra.house.gov/HoR/CA31/News/Press+Releases/2009/032410+fiscal+comission.htm

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/pelosi-names-3-to-obamas-deficit-panel/