Rep. Robert Aderholt named chair of key Appropriations subcommittee

Alabama Congressman Robert Aderholt has been named chair of a key Appropriations subcommittee.

Aderholt, a Republican from Haleyville who is now Alabama’s longest-serving elected official in Washington with the retirement of Sen. Richard Shelby, will lead the Labor, Health and Human Services & Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.

The long subcommittee title translates into being responsible for the largest non-defense budget within the federal budget.

Aderholt was nominated to the post by U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, the chair of the Appropriations Committee, and the Republican Steering Committee approved the nomination.

“It is an honor to have been chosen to chair this important Appropriations Subcommittee,” Aderholt said in a statement. “The Labor, Health and Human Services & Education subcommittee is responsible for the largest pool of non-defense government spending in the entire federal budget, and with that, comes the commitment to renewed oversight and fiscal responsibility as we move into the Fiscal Year 24 Appropriations cycle.

“The new Republican majority in the House has made a commitment to the American people to get government spending under control. As chairman of this committee under Appropriations, I will be laser focused on looking at areas where we can reign in out-of-control spending, much of it put in place during the pandemic and no longer needed.”

Aderholt said he also wanted to use his position to prevent government for paying for abortions.

“I will work as chairman to make sure we defend the most vulnerable among us by protecting the Hyde Amendment,” Aderholt said in the statement. “For decades, this amendment, which prevents tax dollars from being used to pay for abortions, received bipartisan support. Only in recent years have some on the left tried to remove this important safeguard. I will work to make sure it stays firmly in place.”