Freshman Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, on Monday won the committee assignment he hoped for: serving on the House Armed Services Committee, where he can help protect Hill Air Force Base, that is located in his district and is among Utah’s largest employers. He was also appointed to the House Natural Resources Committee.
Fellow Freshman Rep. Burgess Owens was appointed to the House Judiciary Committee.
Moore said in a statement, “I made a promise to get appointed to this important committee as a freshman member, and I am thrilled to be able to deliver on this commitment for my constituents.”
He follows the footsteps of his two predecessors, former Reps. Rob Bishop and Jim Hansen, who also served on that committee. Utah’s 1st Congressional District has now had members on that committee for 34 years, since 1987.
“The First District’s representation on the committee is key to ensuring the tens of thousands of constituents who work at Hill Air Force Base and its several assets have the necessary resources to make vital contributions to our national defense,” Moore said.
The Utah Department of Workforce Services lists Hill Air Force Base as Utah’s sixth largest employer — but the largest in the 1st District — with between 10,000 and 15,000 employees.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues to support those in the First District who wake up every day to serve our nation, and advocate for our national security interests at large, prioritizing pressing issues such as readiness, funding allocation and modernization efforts,” Moore said.
The ranking Republican on that committee, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., welcomed Moore to the committee, and said he will bring valuable experience.
Moore has said he did secretive government work, including serving as a foreign service officer in Asia. Exactly what he did has been hard to verify. During his campaign, the State Department and the CIA would neither confirm nor deny Moore’s assertions.
Rogers said, “Blake Moore’s experience in the Indo-Pacific [region] will make him a critical asset to the House Armed Services Committee. I’m pleased he will continue Utah’s First Congressional District’s representation on the committee, and I’m confident he will be committed to achieving valuable reforms in the armed services community.”
Moore also received a second assignment on the House Natural Resources Committee — which had been chaired at different times by his two predecessors, Hansen and Bishop. I am looking forward to spearheading Utah’s representation on the Committee to address our unique values and interests, including recreation, conservation, energy, and development,” he said.
Owens also was excited about his appointment Monday to the Judiciary Committee.
“I’m honored to be selected to serve on the House Judiciary Committee and look forward to considering the critical matters related to our federal courts, law enforcement agencies, and constitutional amendments,” Owens tweeted. “In the coming months, I’ll work hard to combat human trafficking, address the dangers of censorship, and protect the civil liberties of all Americans.
Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, recently announced that he obtained a new and long-sought appointment to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Curtis said as he was appointed, “No committee in Congress has more impact on Utah, including its oversight of all policy related to health care, technology, commerce, environment, energy, and much more. I look forward to representing Utah’s interest on this prestigious committee.”
