The House Appropriations Committee helm moves from a Democrat often critical of the FDA’s policies, particularly on food safety and product recalls, to a Texas Republican who notes “responsibility to reduce spending where we can” while prioritizing military spending.

Rep. Kay Granger, named Appropriations chair for the 118th Congress on 10 January, said in a release that she’ll work “with my colleagues, both on and off the Committee, to fulfill our Commitment to America by advancing Republican values, passing conservative appropriations bills, and holding the administration accountable.”

Granger, in her 14th terms, noted she’s been an Appropriation member for more than two decades. She’s a former chair of the defense subcommittee representing a district with thousands of Armed Forces members “and hundreds of defense contractors.”

“I’ve worked to ensure that taxpayer money is used responsibly and that our military has the resources it needs to protect the American people,” she said, adding, “As the committee responsible for federal funding, it’s our responsibility to reduce spending where we can and ensure that we prioritize resources on national security.”

Granger succeeds Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro, who has introduced multiple bills proposing establishing a separate food safety agency within the HHS as well as giving the FDA authority to order drug recalls, as it has for food and dietary supplements. (Also see "DeLauro and Durbin's Latest Food Safety Agency Legislation Would Carve Out FDA Pieces Only" - HBW Insight, 28 July, 2022.)

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