Staying On

As expected, Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) will keep the chairmanship of the House Armed Services Committee.

In a committee statement issued late this afternoon, the House Republican Conference decided to keep McKeon as panel chairman and Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) as vice chairman.

"I am honored that my colleagues have chosen me to continue to lead one of the most productive and bi-partisan committees in the House. America's military faces unprecedented challenges around the world. Our troops bear a heavy burden, fatigued after a decade of tough fighting, while confronted with new security threats abroad and dwindling resources here at home," McKeon said in the statement. "Members of the Committee, both Republicans and Democrats, must come together next year to allocate appropriate resources to our national defense, meet future threats, ensure a stable and secure transition in Afghanistan, and honor our commitments to service members and their families."

"The Armed Services Committee has a long history of building a bi-partisan national security consensus. We have talented and energetic members on both sides of the aisle who lead their parties and the nation in defending our freedom. I look forward to working with Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) as we face these challenges together," McKeon continued.