This week, in the aftermath of U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., resigning from Congress, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., will take over as the lead Republican on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee’s Health Subcommittee.
With Buchanan taking over on the Health Subcommittee, he will step down as the top Republican on the U.S. House Trade Subcommittee.
This week, Buchanan said he was happy to start his new assignment which will start on Wednesday.
“Health care represents one-fifth of our economy and is enormously important to every family and business in the country,” Buchanan said. “We need to make it more affordable and accessible for every single American, without imposing burdensome big government regulations.”
Still, with U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, not running for another term, Buchanan is a likely contender to take over as the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee–and could take over as chairman if the GOP flips the House in November.
Buchanan’s office showcased his experience on the various Ways and Means subcommittees this week.
“Once he assumes the top slot on Health, Buchanan will have led five of the committee’s six subcommittees, including Trade, Tax Policy, Oversight and Human Resources. Buchanan’s official move from ranking member on Trade to Health will take place Wednesday during a meeting of committee Republicans,” the congressman’s office noted.
When Brady announced back in April that he would not run again, Buchanan said he was open to leading Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee.
“The announcement by Rep. Kevin Brady that he will not seek re-election is a huge loss to our party,” said Buchanan. “Kevin has been nothing short of a superstar over the past five years as Republican leader of the Ways and Means Committee. I worked side by side with Kevin and saw his critical leadership in passing the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the landmark trade deal with Canada and Mexico. It is my honor to serve as the Republican leader of the Trade Subcommittee and as past chairman of the Tax Subcommittee while these issues were under consideration. At the appropriate time, it would be an honor to be considered for the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee when we win back the House in 2022.”
Buchanan was first elected to Congress in 2006.
