DeSantis gets committee assignments

Amy Graham reported to Historic City News that St Johns County’s new representative in Congress, Ron DeSantis of Ponte Vedra Beach, has recently received his committee assignments for his first term in office; which officially begins when he is sworn into office on January 3, 2013.

Congressman DeSantis will serve on the House Judiciary Committee, the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs during the 113th Congress.

“These committee assignments put me on the front lines in the fight against the job-killing, government-growing policies currently churning out of Washington,” DeSantis told reporters. “I’m honored to represent Florida’s sixth congressional district on these committees and promise to fight for policies that improve the nation’s fiscal standing, rein in government and preserve the principles our nation was founded on.”

The United States Navy JAG officer, Iraq War veteran and former federal prosecutor brings a wealth of military and legal experience to these committees whose duties range from investigating federal government waste and guarding the United States Constitution, to impacting foreign policy and strengthening ties with America’s foreign allies.

DeSantis: During the campaign, I heard concerns from folks throughout the district about the burdens of bureaucracy and red tape. It is crucial that the House exercises its oversight functions to ensure constitutional accountability of government agencies, especially as the bureaucracies associated with ObamaCare and Dodd-Frank flex their muscles and seek to expand their authority. Serving on the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight allows me to play a role making government more accountable by investigating waste, mismanagement and improprieties.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman-elect, Bob Goodlatte, commented that he was looking forward to working with our local representative, saying, “DeSantis’ expertise as a federal prosecutor and a military prosecutor make him particularly well suited to the important work of the Judiciary Committee.”

DeSantis: The House Judiciary Committee is a great place to promote our core principles of constitutionally limited government, individual freedom and the rule of law. I look forward to taking on issues regarding the Constitution, intellectual property, terrorism, and other legal and regulatory reforms.

Goodlatte also noted that he expects DeSantis to play an active role in advancing a pro-growth agenda that will help to create jobs and restore economic prosperity to America.

DeSantis: As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee I’ll advocate for clarity in our foreign relations so that America stands by its closest allies, such as Israel, and demonstrates firmness to hostile, oppressive nations, such as Cuba and Iran. The work of this committee is vital not only to our national security, but to our economic prosperity here at home.