Rep. Pat Tiberi will take the reins of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, Rep. Charles Boustany told POLITICO following an organizational meeting today at the Capitol.
Tiberi represents Ohio’s 12th Congressional District, largely consisting of suburbs to the north and east of Columbus, and has served in Congress since 2000. In his past two terms he chaired the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, which will now be headed by Rep. Dave Reichert.
The selection of Tiberi, not known to be vocal on trade issues, came as a surprise as both Reichert and Boustany, who publicly announced their interest in the Trade Subcommittee chairmanship. Boustany said he was chosen instead to head the panel’s Human Resources Subcommittee. Reichert and Boustany co-chair a caucus focused on advancing the Trans-Pacific Partnership in Congress and have repeatedly mentioned trade as one of their top priorities.
Tiberi has been a reliable vote for trade agreements. He voted for trade promotion authority in 2002 and after that for trade agreements with Chile, Singapore, Australia, Morocco, Central American countries and the Dominican Republic, Bahrain, Oman, Peru, Colombia, Panama and South Korea. He supported the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank in 2012. He also voted for permanent normal trade relations with Russia and Moldova in 2012 and for Vietnam in 2006.
A close ally of House Speaker John Boehner, Tiberi will replace Rep. Devin Nunes as Trade Subcommittee chairman. Nunes is likely to put his focus on leading the House Select Committee on Intelligence as its incoming chairman.
— Adam Behsudi and Doug Palmer
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