Washington, DC – House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers today announced that Congressman Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) has been selected to serve as a member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

“It’s an honor to have been selected by Speaker John Boehner and Chairman Rogers to serve on the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs,” Austria said.  “I believe that my experience working with our excellent military facilities in the district will assist me in providing inside knowledge to inform the committee about policies and budget decisions to strengthen our armed services sector across the country, insuring our national security maintains its high standards.”

Those military facilities located in Ohio’s 7^thCongressional District include Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Springfield Air National Guard Base, the Air and Army National Guard Bases and the Navy Reserve Center at Rickenbacker International Airport, and Defense Supply Center Columbus.  Veterans Affairs facilities in the district include the Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Clinic, the Dayton VA Medical Center, the Chillicothe VA Medical Center, and several community based outreach clinics.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs controls funding for the Department of Defense related to military construction; facilities sustainment; restoration and modernization; military family housing construction, operation and maintenance; and Base Realignment and Closure Account (BRAC).  The work of the subcommittee will directly affect the operation of military facilities in Ohio and across the country. 

The subcommittee also oversees funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“I’m proud to have Steve on the House Appropriations Committee. He will be an important addition to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee because I know he has a keen mind for issues affecting our military installations, military families, and veterans having worked the important military facilities in Ohio,” Chairman Hal Rogers said. “I look forward to working with Steve as we determine how to fund programs and infrastructure important to the military and veterans.”

In addition, Congressman Austria was also selected to serve on the Subcommittee Commerce, Justice, and Science.  The subcommittee provides funding for the Department of Commerce; Department of Justice; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and the National Science Foundation.

“NASA is conducting valuable research and development even here in Ohio,” Austria said.  “Protecting the good work being done so that the organization can continue its progress is important.”

Austria has also been assigned to the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations which determines funding decisions for the Department of State and the Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Constitution provides that the Congress has the sole power to draw funding from the federal treasury.  Originally created in 1865, the House Appropriations Committee is charged with carrying out this constitutional responsibility.  Today, the committee’s twelve subcommittees hold hearings and make decisions on all discretionary government spending.

The House Appropriations Committee has become a key part of the House Republican’s strategy to bring fiscal responsibility back to Washington.  The Committee is one of the most influential in the U.S. Congress and wields control over all discretionary spending.  Under the new Republican leadership the Committee is expected to reduce spending levels by conducting rigorous oversight of government agencies and targeting duplicative and wasteful spending.

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