Representative Tom Cole (R-OK) was recently elected by the House Republican Conference to serve as chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Cole assumed the gavel from Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) who is retiring at the end of this session. Granger decided to vacate the chair early to give her successor a chance to shape the fiscal year (FY) 2025 federal budget.

Cole is the only historian currently serving in Congress. His postgraduate degrees in British history include an M.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. Cole once served as co-chair of the bi-partisan Congressional History Caucus.

Cole’s assumption of the chair triggered a shuffling of subcommittee chairs. Most notably, Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) was named chair of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee that oversees the budget for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). Joyce succeeds Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) who is taking over as chairperson of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

The new rosters of the Republican Majority on the House Appropriations Committee can be seen by clicking here.