Rep. Ken Calvert Named Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chair

CORONA, CA – Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona), whose 41st Congressional District stretches from Lake Elsinore to the Coachella Valley, was named chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, it was announced Tuesday.

The Defense Appropriations Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the United States Department of Defense budget.

Calvert follows Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota) who chaired the subcommittee during the 117th Congress when Democrats held a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. During that time, Calvert served as the subcommittee's minority ranking member.

“There is no higher priority for Congress than defending the American people and the liberties we hold dear," Calvert said in a released statement Tuesday. "Serving as the Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee is one of the greatest honors of my service to this nation. It is also a role that comes with tremendous responsibilities.

"The men and women who step forward to secure our country are the fabric that holds together our common defense and what give America an advantage against any adversary. When we send our fellow citizens into a conflict it is the responsibility of our Subcommittee to provide them the resources to make sure it’s never a fair fight.

"Congress needs to be wide-eyed about the growing capabilities and aggression of nations like China and Russia. America cannot expect to lead the free world in the decades to come if we are not in the position of being the unquestioned defense superpower we have been for decades," Calvert said.

"As Alexander Hamilton once wrote, ‘the circumstances that endanger the safety of nations are infinite.’ Yet, as we know all too well, American tax dollars are very much finite. Our Subcommittee must prioritize efforts that eliminate waste, create efficiencies, and prioritize investments in the tools that will provide the foundation for our defense for decades to come," Calvert continued. "I look forward to meeting these challenges along with Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger, my fellow Subcommittee members, and anyone interested in this vital task."

Calvert's 41st Congressional District includes Canyon Lake, Indian Wells, Lake Elsinore, La Quinta, Menifee, Norco, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Wildomar, and portions of Corona, Eastvale and Riverside.