Walsh: Committee posts ‘allow me to advocate’

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Joe Walsh

Updated: December 30, 2011 7:38PM

Republican Joe Walsh, who will be sworn in Jan. 4 as the new U.S. representative for the 8th Congressional District, has received his first committee assignments and says he is ready to hit the ground running.

The Republican Steering Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives has assigned Walsh to three committees — Homeland Security, Small Business, and Oversight and Government Reform.

“I am proud to accept these positions, and I thank the Steering Committee for entrusting me with these responsibilities. I believe that these committees will allow me to advocate for the issues that I campaigned on and those issues which are important to my constituents in the 8th District,” Walsh said.

As a member of the Small Business Committee under incoming Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., Walsh indicated he will support attempts to amend the new health-care reform bill.

“The Obamacare legislation rammed through Congress earlier this year has left employers in my district worried about its costs and confused about its implementation,” he said. “We must work to alleviate the concerns for small businesses, which are the job-creating engine for the economy.”

Newly seated U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., welcomed Walsh’s selection to the Homeland Security Committee.

“I want to congratulate Congressman-elect Walsh for his appointment to the critical Homeland Security Committee. From this position he will be in a unique opportunity to ensure the safe operation and expansion of O’Hare Airport and its growing economic engine,” Kirk said.

Walsh, running as a Tea Party Republican, narrowly defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Barrington, in the November general election.