WASHINGTON — Sen. John Fetterman will start his Senate profession on committees that oversee agriculture, banking, and the atmosphere, assignments that may assist form his early work within the Capitol.
The assignments for the Democratic freshman, finalized Thursday, are a number of the first concrete indicators of the place Fetterman’s work is more likely to focus as he goals to show his marketing campaign guarantees to battle for working folks into tangible votes and laws.
Whereas senators can work on any concern that crosses their desk, committee assignments usually steer their focus. Committee hearings give them an opportunity to raise sure points, form laws transferring by way of the panels, and collaborate with different lawmakers on the identical committee.
Fetterman can be anticipated to hitch the Particular Committee on Growing older, chaired by fellow Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. Bob Casey, and the bicameral Joint Financial Committee.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to obtain these committee assignments,” Fetterman mentioned in an announcement. “I’m excited to dive in and use these influential assignments to get to work delivering outcomes for the folks of Pennsylvania on these vital points.”
» READ MORE: How John Fetterman will match within the U.S. Senate
He added, “Agriculture is a big financial driver in Pennsylvania, and I’m excited to maintain preventing for our farmers and their households. On the Banking Committee, I’m going to guard shoppers and tackle company greed. And on Surroundings and Public Works, I’ll work to make sure we hold our surroundings clear and our highways, roads, and bridges well-maintained.”
Agriculture is one in every of Pennsylvania’s greatest sectors, and the committee additionally oversees meals help applications which can be usually utilized in larger cities reminiscent of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The insurance policies formed by the atmosphere committee can affect the state’s fracking and industrial sectors, although a lot of vitality coverage goes by way of the separate Vitality and Pure Sources Committee.
On banking, Fetterman could get an opportunity to flex his populist instincts with regards to overseeing huge monetary establishments. His predecessor, Sen. Pat Toomey, was that panel’s top-ranking Republican, and was an ally of enterprise and monetary establishments who opposed almost all authorities intervention within the sector.
Fetterman’s posture is vastly totally different, as he has vowed to tackle companies that he says are gouging on a regular basis prospects.