Banks, Gallagher named new House Armed Services subcommittee ranking members

Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) has been named ranking member of the House Armed Services cyber, innovative technologies, and information systems subcommittee, while Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) will replace Banks as the ranking member on the military personnel subcommittee.

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL) announced the new roles today.

"I am pleased to have two combat veterans in these roles," Rogers said in a statement. "I have the utmost confidence that Representatives Banks and Gallagher will continue to be outstanding leaders as we work to strengthen our national defense and modernize our military to combat our rising adversaries."

On the cyber subcommittee, Banks is replacing Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who was just voted House Republican Conference chairwoman after the GOP ousted Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) from the role.

Banks is chairman of the Republican Study Committee, which includes more than two-thirds of House Republicans. He also previously co-chaired the Future of Defense Task Force, a special House Armed Services Committee group that called for divesting legacy weapon systems and increased spending on emerging technologies to counteract Chinese military and technology investments.

In a statement, Banks said he looks forward to "advancing U.S. efforts on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and other key technology issues to modernize the Department of Defense and equip the military for the future of warfare."

Meanwhile, Gallagher is also co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission in addition to his new duties as ranking member on the military personnel subcommittee.

"There is nothing more important than ensuring our service members have the resources they need to keep us safe, particularly in light of the growing threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party," he said in a statement.