U.S. Republican Congressman Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee will join the subcommittees on Strategic Forces, as well as Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities, according to a press release Wednesday.
The Strategic Forces Subcommittee oversees nuclear weapons, missile defense and space programs. The Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee oversees counter-terrorism, special operations, military intelligence and cyber issues, among other things, according to the press release.
Texas Republican Congressman Mac Thornberry, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, announced subcommittee assignments for the new 116th Congress, according to the press release.
DesJarlais will also serve on the House Agriculture Committee, per an announcement last week from Texas Republican Congressman Mike Conaway, the ranking member.
In a statement, DesJarlais said this new assignment helps Tennessee.
“Tennessee, especially the Fourth District, is a top producer of agriculture staples. It’s a major farming and ranching state, where the Walking Horse industry is prominent. Rural areas are also experiencing manufacturing growth, making demands on infrastructure,” DesJarlais said.
“On the Agriculture Committee, I will have the opportunity to promote rural broadband and workforce development, because important skills are in short supply, and on the Armed Services Committee, I will be able to assist our many military members, serving our country. Tennesseans working at nearby research and testing facilities are at the forefront of nuclear, hypersonic and space technology to protect America. My goal is to provide them and soldiers on the battlefield with all the resources they need to win, and to save taxpayers money. Significant reforms to the Pentagon bureaucracy are already underway.”
As The Tennessee Star reported last month, DesJarlais voted for the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.
The Act amends and extends major programs for income support, food and nutrition, land conservation, trade promotion, rural development, research, forestry, horticulture, and other USDA programs for five years through 2023.
The bill is budget neutral and $112 billion below baseline funding.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
