U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., has taken one step closer to his dream of leading the House Appropriations Committee.
Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., on Wednesday named Fleischmann and 11 others vice chairpersons for the committee’s 12 subcommittees. Vice chairpersons lead the committees in the chairman’s absence.
“These Members will play an integral role in bringing each of the 12 appropriations bills from subcommittee to the House floor, and I know that they will live up to the demands of the job over what I expect will be a tough but successful appropriations year,” Rogers said in a statement.
Fleischmann will be co-leader of the Energy and Water Subcommittee, which will put him in a stronger position to funnel money toward the stalled Chickamauga Lock project.
Army Corps of Engineers officials said in February funding for the lock may be re-evaluated, even with an expected $35 million infusion into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund from higher fuel taxes on barge operators.