WASHINGTON – During a reorganization of the House Appropriations Committee today, Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today became the ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.

“The issues overseen by this subcommittee are core responsibilities of our federal government,” said DeLauro. “Providing sufficient financial resources that will promote a safe food supply and a healthy agricultural economy, while providing adequate funding to effectively oversee the products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration are at the heart of this subcommittee’s jurisdiction. I look forward to promoting these interests as the subcommittee’s ranking member.”

Committee Democrats met today to reorganize, which is part of an annual process of restructuring subcommittees. This year’s process was shaped in part by a plan submitted by Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis, which reduces the number of subcommittees from thirteen to ten and realigns remaining jurisdictions.

The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee accepted the recommendations today, but the subcommittee assignments will not be final until the House Democratic Caucus confirms them in the morning.