House Democrats have elected Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) to be the chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Maloney, the first woman to lead that committee, defeated Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly by a 133–86 vote in a secret ballot among the full Democratic caucus. She succeeds the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who died last month.
Maloney, who lost to Cummings as the committee’s top Democrat nearly a decade ago, is the panel’s longest-serving Democrat, having joined in 1993. She has led the committee on an acting basis for the past month. Maloney is taking the helm of one of the House committees leading an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.
Maloney is in her 14th term representing a district that includes much of Manhattan, including Trump Tower. She is best known for her years of advocacy on behalf of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and she famously wore a New York firefighter’s jacket at the Capitol and even at the Met Gala, until she could secure permanent authorization for a victims’ fund. A measure making the 9/11 fund permanent was a rare example of a bipartisan bill signed into law earlier this year.
“Now, our Caucus has elected Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, a deeply respected and battle-tested leader, to this critical post.
“Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney has been a force for progress in America for decades. At the helm of the Joint Economic Committee, she has honed a keen understanding of the priorities and needs of the American people, and has worked tirelessly to deliver progress that lifts up families in every corner of America. She brings outstanding legislative experience and knowledge of the workings of the Congress that will strengthen the Oversight Committee’s work at this critical time in our nation’s history.”
The committee has a broad portfolio, including oversight of the Trump administration’s handling of census and immigration matters, as well as investigations into Trump’s business dealings, and security clearances granted to White House officials.
Maloney also serves on the House Financial Services Committee, reflecting the importance of the financial industry in her district. She agreed to give up her role leading a subcommittee on investor protection and capital markets.
