Strategic Decision

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) has been elected by his fellow House Armed Services Committee Democrats to chair the panel's strategic forces subcommittee, the full committee announced today.

Langevin replaces Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), who resigned from the House late last month to become under secretary of state for arms control and international security.

Committee Chairman Ike Skelton said in a statement today that Langevin "has been a member of the House Armed Services Committee for many years, and also brings invaluable experience as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. I am confident he will be an excellent chairman and make us proud as we work to protect Americans and preserve our national security."

The committee statement outlined how the vote took place:

Subcommittee chairmen were selected by the Caucus of the Committee pursuant to the Rules of the House Armed Services Committee and the Democratic Caucus. The full slate of subcommittee chairmen for the Committee will be submitted to the House Democratic Leadership for their consideration, and the new subcommittee chairman will assume his post immediately, pending no vote of disapproval by the House Democratic Caucus. The House Armed Services Committee Democratic Caucus also adopted a unanimous consent request to reaffirm the subcommittee selections of the entire Committee Democratic Caucus from earlier this year.