In a move that gives Fort Worth a key voice in maintaining its standing as a defense industry bulwark, Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, announced Jan. 10 she has been named Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee for the 115th Congress. This subcommittee oversees more than 50 percent of total House Appropriations Committee funding, giving her a key role in funding defense project such as Lockheed’s F-35 program that has come under fire from President-elect Donald Trump. .
“I am honored to be asked to serve as Chairwoman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee,” Granger said. “Much of my work in Congress has focused on national security and foreign policy. So I am ready to go to work on Day One. The challenges facing our nation are serious—terrorism remains a global threat and our military has been reduced during the Obama years. To be safe, we must be strong. I will work with my colleagues to rebuild America’s military. Now is the time to invest in our military and ensure it is stronger than ever.”
Granger is no stranger to the committee, having served as vice chairwoman of the committee during the last congressional session. She replaces Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-New Jersey, who was named chairman of the entire Appropriations Committee late last year.
As a freshman from 1997-1999, Granger served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Budget Committee. In 1999, she was selected to serve on the Appropriations Committee. During her time on the committee she has served as Vice Chair of the Military Construction Subcommittee, and most recently as Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Committee. She has also served on the Defense Subcommittee including four years as Vice Chair. In 2001 in the aftermath of 9-11, she was chosen to serve on the newly created House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee.
As a result of her work in national security and foreign policy, Granger has been the recipient of numerous national security awards over the years, including:
• The Navy Distinguished Public Service Award awarded by the Secretary of the Navy;
• The Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service awarded by the Secretary of the Army;
• The Semper Fidelis Award presented by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation;
• The US Global Leadership Coalition Award presented by the US Global Leadership Coalition;
• The Henry M. Scoop Jackson Distinguished Service Award presented by the Jewish Institute of National Security Affairs;
• And she was chosen by then-Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to receive the first “Global War on Terrorism” coin.