Chairman Dreier Appoints Congressman Cole Point Man on Defense Issues

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Cole was tapped by Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (CA-26) to take charge of defense legislation and issues that come before the Rules Committee. At the direction of the House Leadership, individual members of the Rules Committee will now be directly engaged with committees and their chairman as legislation is being initially crafted.

"I am honored to accept this responsibility that will allow me to have a greater role in setting defense budget priorities and in decision making about the future of our military," Congressman Tom Cole.

"Congressman Cole is already proving to be an outstanding member of the Rules Committee and I'm very pleased he will be our point man on defense issues. His experience on the Armed Services Committee will prove invaluable to us as we consider important issues like the upcoming Iraq supplemental spending bill, and the Defense Authorization bill. I look forward to working with him on these and many other issues in the coming Congress," Chairman Dreier said.

Congressman Cole's new responsibilities include working as a liaison between the Rules Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and House Armed Services Committee. He will be managing the legislation produced by these panels, including the annual defense authorization and defense appropriations bills.

"Congressman Cole has become a real leader in guiding national security issues," said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (CA-52). "His powerful new position on the Rules Committee is great news for our men and women in uniform. We could not have a better ally and I look forward to continuing to work with him."

"As a member of the Rules Committee it is important to make sure that legislation that reaches the floor is supported by a majority of the House. My job as a liaison will be to work with the committees and groups of members from the beginning of the legislative process until the bill reaches the floor. Then when it does reach the floor, I will leading the debate on the rule and playing a large role in deciding which amendments could be offered," Congressman Cole said.

"This position will allow me to have greater influence in creating national defense policy and in decisions that affect important military instillations in Oklahoma," Congressman Cole said.

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