House GOP Steering Committee selects four members for new committee positions

The House Republican Steering Committee selected four lawmakers on Wednesday evening to fill committee seats negotiated between Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyPeters criticizes Trump for not taking action after cyberattacks on hospitals, COVID-19 researchers McConnell, Pelosi hunt for funding deal as shutdown deadline looms The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC - Trump, Biden clash over transition holdup, pandemic plans MORE (R-Calif.) and Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOn The Money: Democrats accuse Mnuchin of sabotaging economy in dispute with Fed | Trump administration proposal takes aim at bank pledges to avoid fossil fuel financing | JPMorgan: Economy will shrink in first quarter due to COVID-19 spike Pelosi defends election results: 'It was a great victory' The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Capital One - Pfizer, BioNTech apply for vaccine authorization MORE (D-Calif.) following Republicans’ special election wins earlier this year. 

 The  31-member panel — which consists of top Republican lawmakers and is tasked with determining who is placed on certain committees  —  was able to place members on more senior committees than their previous assignments. 

The Steering members opted to place Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) on the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Mark GreenMark GreenCheney seeks to cool tensions with House conservatives USAID deputy leader ousted in staff shakeup amid vote counting USAID acting administrator required to leave post by midnight MORE (R-Tenn.) was selected to serve on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) was appointed to the Homeland Security Committee and Rep. Pete StauberPeter (Pete) Allen Stauber3 congressmen on Air Force One with Trump took commercial flight after president's diagnosis Trump, Biden vie for Minnesota Minnesota Rep. Pete Stauber glides to victory in GOP primary MORE (R-Minn.) was selected to sit on the House Committee on Natural Resources.  

It’s unclear when the committee will select members to replace Rep. Steve WatkinsSteven (Steve) Charles WatkinsRepublicans hold on to competitive Kansas House seat Ethics panel opens probe into Rep. Watkins after voter fraud charges The Hill's Campaign Report: COVID-19 puts conventions in flux  MORE (R-Kansas) on his committees in the wake of the embattled Kansas Republican’s recent announcement that he was temporarily stepping down from his committee posts after being charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor. Watkins maintains there was no wrongdoing. 

The committee seats Watkins previously sat on will temporarily remain vacant, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.