June 14, 2017

As Rep. Jason Chaffetz leaves Congress on June 30, Rep. Trey Gowdy, Republican of the 4^th District of South Carolina, will take over leadership of the House Oversight Committee. This is the Congressional committee that is taking the lead in any possible postal legislation.

Gowdy is not one of the group of five committee members who crafted the current Postal Reform Act of 2017. Chairman-elect Gowdy does not have a public track record of interest in the USPS, although he could decide to shepherd the postal bill forward.

According to Roll Call, only Oklahoma’s Steve Russell also sought the committee chairmanship.  Gowdy is ninth in committee seniority while Russell is 19^th.

Here is the statement he issued upon his selection as Chairman:

REP. GOWDY STATEMENT ON OVERSIGHT CHAIRMAN

June 8, 2017

Press Release

Washington, DC – Rep. Trey Gowdy (SC-04) released the following statement after the Steering Committee elected him to serve as Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

“I am grateful to the Steering Committee and the Conference as a whole for this opportunity to serve. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has jurisdiction in a variety of areas as outlined in the Rules of the House for the 115th Congress. That jurisdiction includes compulsory and original jurisdiction as well as secondary and permissive jurisdiction. Oversight is constitutionally authorized and important to ensure branch integrity and equilibrium, which is, in part, why other Standing Committees have subcommittees dedicated to providing oversight and all other Standing Committees have oversight responsibilities. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is also responsible for recommending and implementing reform initiatives calculated to improve government efficiency, transparency and efficacy. I look forward to working alongside the other Committee members, as well as any member of Congress, as we discharge the jurisdiction assigned to us.”