Florida Rep. Mike Waltz (R) has released a statement announcing his committee assignments in the 118th Congress. The Florida Republican announced that he will serve on the House Foreign Relations Committee (HFAC), the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSI).
By joining the House Foreign Relations Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Waltz will further expand his role on national security matters.
In a statement, the Florida lawmaker shared his enthusiasm for the work ahead, affirming that he will continue working “on the House Armed Services Committee in a Republican-led majority that will allow us to better equip our military, counter the threats of the Chinese Communist Party and other global adversaries, and refocus the military away from woke priorities and back to winning wars.”
Waltz also shared that he is focused on expanding his "work on national security matters by serving on the House Foreign Relations Committee and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence."
"It’s critical we thoroughly investigate the Biden Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and hold those accountable for the killing of 13 U.S. service members and leaving thousands of Americans and allies behind enemy lines," he warned, adding that "Congress must also work to ensure the Intelligence Community remains focused on countering espionage efforts of foreign adversaries and to ensure political motives are not factored in their decision making."
The committee assignments come after a battle in the House over who should be Speaker of the House. While Waltz supported California Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R) for the role, numerous Republicans dissented, and it led to over 15 votes for McCarthy to be elected.
Waltz has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration, making numerous calls for the administration to be investigated over the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Waltz has also called on military use to address drug cartels at the border.