It took more than 10 days after they were sworn into office, but all four freshmen in Maryland’s congressional delegation finally know what committees they will be serving on for the 119th Congress.
Because the Senate moves at a different pace, freshman Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D) has known since before the new Congress was sworn in on Jan. 3 which committees would be on. But the House is a different beast, and the three Maryland newcomers there, all Democrats, only announced their committee assignments Tuesday.
Alsobrooks, the former Prince George’s County executive was named to the Special Committee on Aging and to the committees on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
In the House, 6th District Rep. April McClain Delaney was named to the committees on Agriculture and on Science, Space and Technology; 3rd District Rep. Sarah K. Elfreth was named to the Armed Services and Natural Resources committees; and 2nd District Rep. Johnny Olszewski Jr. landed on the Foreign Affairs and the Small Business Committee.
It’s not the same level of drama that accompanied the move by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th) in December to replace Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) as ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, but both Olszewski and McClain Delaney said in prepared statements that they were pleased with their assignments.
“I am honored to serve on the Agriculture and Science, Space & Technology Committees for the 119th Congress,” said McClain Delaney, pointing to the 3,500 farms and the tech businesses that are part of her sprawling Western Maryland district.
The new members have already staffed up their offices after being sworn in Jan. 3.
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