Pelosi to allow freshman Dems to elect their own for committee assignment

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali.) announced Tuesday that freshman Democrats will be allowed to directly elect their own representative to the Steering and Policy Committee of the House Democratic Caucus.

In the past, more senior members of the caucus have appointed a freshman representative to the committee.

“Our newly-elected Members have already proven to be extraordinary leaders who make our House Democratic Caucus the first Caucus in history to be composed of a majority of women and minorities,” Pelosi said in a statement. “It is because of their leadership that, in a break with tradition, I have asked the incoming freshmen to elect their representative to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Our Caucus and the American people have great confidence in their abilities.”

In addition, Pelosi said she will recommend Rep. David Curson (D-Mich.) be assigned to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, and Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) be assigned to the Agriculture Committee for the remainder of the 112th Congress.

Curson is serving only a partial term, taking over for former Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), who resigned earlier this year.

The recommendations will be made at Wednesday’s Democratic Caucus meeting.

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