Cleaver: I am eager to tackle the financial issues facing everyday Americans

(From Fifth District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver)

The 116th Congress promises to be a Congress of progress. Now that I have my committee assignments, I wanted to update you on my recent appointments and lay out my goals within those committees.

First, it is an honor to be appointed chairman of the newly-created Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy—within the House Financial Services Committee. This subcommittee has broad jurisdiction over international and domestic financial policy including issues such as trade, sanctions, defense production, illicit finance, and regulation of the money supply.

As we get started, I am eager to tackle the financial issues facing everyday Americans. First and foremost is making sure we continue to keep all of the government running and prevent another shutdown. We cannot continue to hold hard-working Americans hostage for a political circus.

I look forward to addressing some of the most critical economic challenges facing the American economy. To do that, it is my intention to work on bipartisan solutions that would safeguard our financial system.

Through this subcommittee, I will be able to oversee sanctions against Russia, Iran and other nations as well as monitor trade issues and our overall economy.

Although there is plenty on my plate, I was excited when Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked me to serve on the Select Committee on Modernization of Congress. This committee will be vital in reforming Congress to make it work more efficiently for the American people, and as chairman of the Civility Caucus, I feel I am strongly positioned to provide positive insight on how we can accomplish that. This essential committee was designed to investigate, study, make findings, hold public hearings, and develop recommendations on modernizing Congress. It probably has the most transformative potential of any committee in Congress.

I’m excited to join chairman of the committee, Rep. Derek Kilmer, and my fellow colleagues; Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Mark Pocan and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon on this committee.

Affordable housing remains one of my passions and to that end, I will continue serving on the Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance. We were able to pass one of the largest sweeping housing reforms in history and there’s more work to do to ensure people have access to affordable and quality housing.

Last, but certainly not least, I will rejoin my colleagues on the House Committee on Homeland Security. I have long been concerned that the mid-west is overlooked when it comes to Homeland Security. I intend to make our presence felt on this committee.

Time to get to work!