Solomon P. Ortiz: 71, will chair the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee

U.S. Rep. Ortiz remains head of military subcommittee

Local leaders say his position important for area military bases

By Jaime Powell (Contact)
Thursday, January 15, 2009

p-9legislature0110ty ñ Caller-Times Photo by Todd Yates ñ State Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz Jr.(center) shows his father, U.S. Rep. Solomon P.Ortiz, and mother, Irme Roldan, to their seats next to his on the house floor Tuesday January 09, 2007 before his swearing in to the 80th Texas legislative session in Austin.

During his 14th term, U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Robstown, will continue to lead a military subcommittee that local leaders say is beneficial to area military bases.

Ortiz, 71, will chair the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, a position he has held for two years. The subcommittee authorizes a $160 billion budget and has oversight over military training, logistics, industrial operations, environmental policy, depot policy, military construction and base realignment and closure.

"He is chairman of the lead authorization committee for military construction, and it also gives him the added stroke in appropriations," said Dick Messbarger, executive director of the Greater Kingsville Economic Development Council. "It's good for the whole area down here. He has been in that position for years, and his influence and stature just keeps increasing in D.C."

In addition, Ortiz will serve on the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee, which has oversight on Navy research and procurement programs.

As a first-term member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Ortiz will sit on both the Highways and Transit and the Water Resources and Environment subcommittees, which as a combination oversee federal surface transportation projects, Army Corps of Engineers' projects, the Water Resources Development Act and many infrastructure improvement bills.

"South Texas continues to grow, and these new assignments will allow me to stress our need for better roads, ports, waterways and infrastructure projects," Ortiz said in a statement. "During these times of economic struggle, we can emphasize how these projects will create good paying jobs in the region."