Congressman Platts Appointed to House Armed Services Committee

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Todd Platts (PA-19) has been appointed as the newest member of the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee.  Congressman Platts was appointed to the Committee following the resignation of Congressman John McHugh (NY-23), who was recently nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Secretary of the Army. 

“I am honored to have been selected to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, and I eagerly accept this new responsibility,” said Congressman Platts. “I have always deeply appreciated the dedication of the men and women who serve every day for the purpose of defending our Nation and its citizens.  It is my intent to help ensure that our military personnel have the tools they need to do their jobs effectively while also ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent in a responsible and transparent manner.” 

Throughout his eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Platts has actively engaged in issues related to the nation’s Armed Services and has strongly supported American military personnel and their families.  As a member of the U.S. House Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Congressman Platts visited American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on numerous occasions.  He has also visited troops in Bosnia, Kosovo, Germany, Israel, Uzbekistan, and Macedonia.  Congressman Platts also regularly visits and assists wounded military personnel and their family members.

The 19th Congressional District is home to three military installations, including the United States Army War College in Carlisle, the Naval Supply Systems Command in Mechanicsburg, and the New Cumberland Army Depot in New Cumberland.  Likewise, numerous large defense contractors, including BAE Systems and General Dynamics, have significant manufacturing facilities in the 19th Congressional District.  Additionally, thousands of current and retired military personnel and civilian Department of Defense employees reside in the district.

The House Armed Services Committee has jurisdiction over: general defense policy; ongoing military operations; the organization and reform of the Department of Defense and Department of Energy; counter-drug programs; acquisition and industrial base policy; technology transfer and export control; joint interoperability; the Cooperative Threat Reduction program; Department of Energy nonproliferation programs; and, detainee affairs and policy.  The Committee has seven Subcommittees, including: Readiness; Seapower and Expeditionary Forces; Air and Land Forces; Oversight and Investigations; Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities; Strategic Forces; and, Military Personnel.

In accepting this appointment to the Armed Services Committee, Congressman Platts will be relinquishing his seat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.  Congressman Platts will retain his seats on the Committee on Education and Labor, where he serves as Ranking Republican Member of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.