Rep. Stephen Lynch Reappointed as Chairman of National Security Subcommittee, Retains Important Assignments to Transportation and Financial Services Committees in the 117th Congress

Press Release

U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) has been reappointed to the Chair of the National Security Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform in the 117th Congress. The Oversight Committee is the preeminent investigative body in the House of Representatives with unlimited jurisdiction under the House Rules.

"I am excited to begin working with the Biden/Harris administration and very pleased to be renamed as Subcommittee Chairman, said Lynch. "This will allow us to continue our efforts to ensure the health and safety of all our veterans, including our K2 veterans, as well as our active-duty service members at Fort Hood and on deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia."

After the SolarWinds hack against numerous government agencies, the National Security Subcommittee has also focused on protecting the nation's information technology and critical infrastructure from malicious cyber-actors. Lynch's subcommittee is also expected to closely reassess the previous administration's effort to negotiate a peace agreement with the Taliban, which has been criticized for excluding Afghan women and marked by escalating suicide bombings and attacks against Afghan police and civilians.

In addition, Rep. Lynch has been thrust into the recent GameStop trading controversy as part of his assignment to the Financial Services Committee, which includes his Chairmanship of the House Financial Technology Taskforce.

"We definitely have a full schedule" said Lynch. "The pandemic has slowed our investigations both at home and abroad at the same time that major issues continue to emerge. These would be challenging times under normal circumstances - but when you add in a violent attack on the Capitol and the COVID pandemic restrictions, it makes our work much more difficult. But on the bright side, I am confident that the Biden/Harris administration will take the pandemic seriously - that will make a difference, it will help a great deal."

In rejoining the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 117th Congress, Rep. Lynch will also have the opportunity to play a key role in shaping the major transportation infrastructure bill that President Biden has identified as one of his top priorities.

"I am very hopeful that we can assist President Biden to get this big transportation bill done. It shouldn't be a partisan issue, this is basic infrastructure. We have included massive broad band expansion in rural "red state" areas, while we have also invested in green technologies and climate change resiliency that will be important to major coastal cities like Boston and New York. There is something for everyone to support," said Lynch.

Notably, Rep. Lynch will continue serving on both the Subcommittee on Aviation and the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, which have had an outsized impact on the 8th Congressional District.

Source