On Wednesday, House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger (R-Texas) announced that after thirty years of Congress, she would not seek reelection. Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04), who has served 27 years in Congress with Granger saluted her on her retirement.
“We are all sad to see the news that Kay will be leaving Congress,” said Rep. Aderholt. “Kay has not only been a dedicated advocate for her constituents back in Texas, she has also been a champion of fiscal responsibility, both as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and ultimately as its leader,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt. “Kay and I were elected the same year, and over the years she has been a fighter, a great leader on the Appropriations Committee, and she has been a friend.”
Aderholt wrote on X, “I’ve have enjoyed so much serving alongside @RepKayGranger She has not only been a dedicated advocate for her constituents back in Texas, she has also been a champion of fiscal responsibility, both as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and ultimately as its leader.”
Suppose the House Republican Conference continues to follow its historical preference to seniority rules. In that case, there is a strong likelihood that Aderholt would be considered to follow Granger as Chair of the Appropriations Committee – assuming Republicans can somehow hold on to their slim majority in the House of Representatives in next year’s election.
“Kay’s shoes will not be easily filled,” Aderholt said. “But in borrowing directly from her retirement announcement, I’m confident that our party is ready to choose, at the appropriate time, a new appropriations leader ‘to step up and take the mantle and be a strong and fierce representative for the people.’ Of course, for right now, I look forward to working with Chair Granger over the next year as we finish this year’s appropriations process and begin work on Fiscal Year 2025.”
Democrats control the U.S. Senate. Republicans control the U.S. House of Representatives. Neither have passed a 2024 budget, even though the deadline was September 30. The federal government is currently operating on a 45-day continuing resolution that expires in two weeks – and still, neither House has passed a budget.
“The American people have made it clear they are tired of funding the operations of the federal government through unending continuing resolutions,” Aderholt said. “They want the 12 appropriations bills to be brought to the floor for an up or down vote. And they want those bills to reflect the fact we are more than $33 trillion dollars in debt.”
“Kay has made great progress in changing that culture, and it will be up to the next leader of the House Appropriations Committee to continue those reforms,” Aderholt concluded. “As newly elected Speaker Johnson said last week, the People’s House is back in business, but I know he doesn’t want it to be business as usual. I wholeheartedly agree. When the time comes, and our Conference gives thought to who they want to take up the mantle of House Appropriations, I will be considering, and most certainly praying, about how I could use my talents and experience to advance our party’s message and goals, which is ultimately about making this nation strong again, respected again, and of course fiscally responsible again.”
Robert Aderholt has served the people of Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District. He is seeking a fourteenth term next year.
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