Speaker Appoints Cole to Rules Committee
Washington, D.C. – Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole was appointed to a coveted seat on the powerful House Rules Committee last night by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert.
The Rules Committee is part of the House leadership and works with the Speaker and the Majority Leader to schedule bills and set the terms of debate on the Floor. It serves as a "legislative gatekeeper" and every piece of legislation considered by the House must first go through the Rules Committee.
The nine Republican members of the Rules Committee are personally selected by the Speaker, subject to a vote of approval by the House Republican Conference. The House Republican Conference approved the nominees last night. Committee appointments require final approval by the full House. This pro forma action usually takes place by unanimous consent and is expected in the near future.
"Tom Cole is a respected member of the House, on both sides of the aisle," said Speaker Hastert. "I added him to my leadership team because, quite simply, Tom knows how to get things done in Washington. I trust him to help our team get things done for the American people"
"This is a tremendous honor," Cole said. "Joining the Speaker's leadership team also is an enormous responsibility. I have worked hard the last two years to strengthen our armed forces as they defend us in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world, support conservative values, reduce the deficit, and to advance the interests of Oklahoma. Gaining a seat at the leadership table will help me to effectively represent the views and values of the people of the Fourth Congressional District."
In December, Cole was promoted to deputy whip by House Majority Whip Roy Blunt. He had served as an assistant whip during his first two years in Congress. Cole is starting his second term in the House.
"This is a huge win for Oklahoma," said former U.S. Senator and University of Oklahoma President David Boren. "The Rules Committee is widely acknowledged to be the most powerful committee in the House. Tom Cole will have a voice in shaping the contents and debate of virtually every bill that affects Oklahoma. The value of Tom's promotion to our state should not be underestimated."
Congressman Cole will retain his seat and seniority on the House Armed Services Committee. However, he will take a leave of absence from the Armed Services Committee because Rules Committee members are traditionally barred from actively serving on more than one committee due to the importance of the assignment.
"Fort Sill, Tinker Air Force Base, and our other military bases in Oklahoma remain as central parts of my focus and work in Congress," Cole added. "I will retain a voice in shaping the annual defense authorization bill and enhance my ability to work with other committees that craft other important military legislation such as the defense and military construction appropriations bills, and intelligence and homeland security legislation."
Cole is the first Oklahoman to be appointed to the Rules Committee in over 30 years. According to the Congressional Research Service, only three other Oklahomans in the history of Congress have served on the Rules Committee. They are:
1) John Conover (Jack) Nichols served in the House from 1935-1943. He was a Democrat and served on the majority side of the panel in the 77th and 78th Congresses (1941-1943).
2) Ross Rizley served in the House from 1941-1949. He was a Republican and served on the majority side of the panel from 1947-1948 (80th Congress).
3) Clem Rogers McSpadden served in the House from 1973-1974. He was a Democrat and served in the majority on the panel from 1973-1974 (93rd Congress).
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