WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) has been ratified by the House Republican Conference as the next Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
“I am honored to be chosen by the Republican Steering Committee to succeed Congresswoman Kay Granger as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee,” said Congressman Cole. “I would like to thank the Steering Committee, as well as my fellow Appropriations Committee members, for their support. It means a great deal to have the confidence of these well-respected members, and I am deeply humbled to be entrusted with this duty.”
“There is substantial work to be done, and I care deeply about our mission,” said Cole. “I will be utilizing my expertise and years of service on this Committee to responsibly guide us forward and fight for conservative, Republican priorities. I look forward to hitting the ground running tomorrow and am committed to engaging with the entire Conference to deliver the necessary appropriations bills in a timely manner. Everything I do will be in pursuit of fulfilling our fiscal commitments no matter the obstacles we face.”
“Challenges must always be met with leadership, and I have had the opportunity to learn from the best,” said Cole. “I want to thank Chairwoman Granger for all her splendid work throughout her long and distinguished career. This Committee is exceptionally rich in representatives who have held this position before, and I am very lucky to have not just one, but two, Republican Chairs Emeriti on the Committee. I will rely on both Chairwoman Kay Granger and Chairman Hal Rodgers throughout my tenure. Now, let’s get to work for the American people.”
“I am very pleased that my good friend Tom Cole has been selected to lead the Appropriations Committee as Chair,” said Appropriations Chair Emeritus Kay Granger. “He has served in various leadership positions on the Committee, including as Chair of two of the largest subcommittees. He has proven himself to be a fierce advocate for life and a strong national defense. And most importantly, he is a true statesman – reasonable yet unwavering in his principles. There is no one better to lead the Committee than Tom. As I transition to the role of Chair Emeritus, I look forward to continuing to work with Tom, and I am excited to see what he accomplishes as Chair of our great Committee.”
Cole is a fifth generation Oklahoman and an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation. He is one of only five Native Americans currently serving in Congress. Since 2009, he has served as the Republican Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus. The National Congress of American Indians has recognized Cole’s distinguished service with the Congressional Leadership award on three different occasions (2007, 2011 and 2017), more than any other member of Congress in the history of the organization. He was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2004.
