Freshman state reps get first assignments

For area freshman Congressmen, class is about to start.

Already they have received their committee assignments.

For Congressman Joe Walsh, the 8th District Republican will juggle three assignments: Homeland Security, Small Business and Oversight and Government Reform.

“I am proud to accept these positions, and I thank the (House Republican) steering committee for entrusting me with these responsibilities,” Walsh said in a statement released Sunday. “I believe that these committees will allow me to advocate for the issues that I campaigned on and those issues which are important to my constituents in the 8th District.”

Walsh received encouragement from an area freshman senator, Republican Mark Kirk.

“I want to congratulate Congressman-elect Walsh for his appointment to the critical Homeland Security Committee,” Kirk also said in the statement. “From this position he will be in a unique opportunity to ensure the safe operation and expansion of O'Hare Airport and its growing economic engine.”

Kirk's successor in the 10th District, Robert Dold, was appointed to the House Committee on Financial Services.

“I'm proud to have the opportunity to serve on this highly respected and impactful committee, and I am eager to begin working on bipartisan measures in January to address the housing and financial issues most important to the district and nation,” he said in a separate statement Sunday.

Noting that Illinois suffers from significantly higher unemployment rates than other areas of the country, he pointed out that this committee “will be influential in addressing the systemic problems that caused the economic recession.”

“Until we confront and solve the issues that plague our economy we will not be able to get Americans back to work,” Dold added.

The freshman congressman in the 14th District, Randall Hultgren, will serve on the Agriculture and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. He could not be reached for comment Sunday.