Rep. John Moolenaar will be the new chairman of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Monday.
Mr. Moolenaar is taking over the high-profile committee because the current chairman, GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, is quitting Congress next month.
The committee works on identifying and combating any national security threats that China may pose.
Mr. Johnson said Mr. Moolenaar will be “an exceptional chairman” for the committee.
“His leadership experience in the private and public sectors, his academic background, and his principled service in Congress have earned John the respect of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle,” the Louisiana Republican said in a statement.
Mr. Gallagher’s unexpected departure comes as other Republican committee chairs in the House are quitting their posts. Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger of Texas, Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington and Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry of North Carolina also have announced their retirements.
Mr. Moolenaar, Michigan Republican, thanked the speaker for the appointment.
“I look forward to working with Ranking Member [Raja] Krishnamoorthi, the members of the Select Committee, House leaders, and the standing committees in the weeks and months ahead,” he said in a statement. “Together, we can help our country prepare for the challenges we face from the Chinese Communist Party and win the competition against the CCP.”
Mr. Moolenaar said he was “grateful” to Mr. Gallagher for being an “incredible leader for our country as a member of the military, and as a member of Congress, where he was instrumental in creating the Select Committee.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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