Ryan Confident of Appropriations Seat as New Term Begins

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan said Tuesday the congressman expects to retain his seat on the Appropriations Committee when assignments are finalized in the next 45 days.

Ryan, D-13 Ohio, was sworn in for his eighth term in Washington yesterday. He was first elected to Congress in 2002.

Michael Zetts, communications director for Ryan, said in an email that the committee assignment process takes 45 days to work through. “But we have every expectation that Congressman Ryan will remain on Appropriations,” he said. “He will be off the Budget Committee because he is term-limited as Appropriations Delegate to Budget.”

Ryan challenged Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for leadership of the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives following the party’s failures in the Nov. 8 general elections. Despite losing seats, Republicans retained their majorities in both houses of Congress and took the presidency, which Ryan blamed in part on the inability of the party to engage voters in the parts of the country that Donald Trump won.

Ryan has consistently dismissed concerns that his leadership challenge could cost him his seat on Appropriations.

“I am proud to begin my eighth term representing the Ohio 13th District in Congress,” he said in a statement. “This is an important time in our country and I remain determined to stand up for the hardworking men and women here in Ohio and across the country.” Ryan said in the email. “I look forward to continuing my work to lead our nation towards a better and brighter future.”

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-6 Ohio, who represents part of Mahoning County, begins his fourth term as a member of the House. He will again serve on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the House Budget Committee.

Congress has “an historic opportunity to lead and make positive, lasting changes for the American people,” Johnson said in a statement.

“There are difficult challenges ahead, and I look forward to working with President-elect Trump and my colleagues on both sides of the political aisle to find common-sense solutions that work for the American people,” Johnson said. “It matters little to me whether an idea originates with the Republicans or Democrats; rather, what matters is the impact it will have on those I represent.”

Johnson also said he hoped that President-elect Trump will work with Congress to advance an agenda to “reign in Washington’s out-of-control bureaucracies, spending, and ballooning national debt, secure energy independence — which includes all energy sources, including coal, grow our economy and add good-paying jobs — and halt and roll back onerous job crushing regulations.”

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