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House members get assignments

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By Ed Tibbetts | Wednesday, December 13, 2006 1:16 AM CST | () comments

The Quad-City region’s new congressmen will sit on the Education and Work Force and Transportation and Infrastructure committees, House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced Tuesday.

Rep.-elect Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, will be on Transportation, while Rep.-elect Phil Hare, D-Ill., will sit on the Education panel.

Both men said they were happy with their assignments.

“I’m very excited,” Hare said. “It’s a natural for me.”

Hare said he is interested in working to revise the No Child Left Behind education law and added that he would form an advisory panel of educators to assist him.

Braley’s office said his seat on Transportation will allow him to weigh in on renewable energy issues, such as when the multi-year transportation bill comes up for debate.

He also noted the importance of transportation to Iowa. The Quad-Cities, for example, is seeking federal funds to build a new Interstate 74 bridge.

Braley had hoped to be on the Energy and Commerce Committee, but he was not successful. He said no freshmen were assigned to what are called exclusive committees, the more sought-after panels.

Hare is hopeful that he will still secure a spot on the Veterans Affairs panel, a spot his predecessor U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, D-Ill., holds.

Hare, of Rock Island, and Braley, of Waterloo, both expect to be appointed to one more committee.

Pelosi also announced these appointments: U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, to Energy and Commerce, and Rep.-elect Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, to the Education Committee.

Ed Tibbetts can be contacted at (563) 383-2327 or etibbetts@qctimes.com.