Pelosi taps Virginia Democrat for key post on economic panel

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday named Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) to be the vice chairman of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), tapping him to serve as the top Democrat on a panel that includes members from both chambers of Congress.

Beyer is set to succeed Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), who became chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee late last year following the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). 

“As a powerful voice in Congress and on the Joint Economic Committee, Congressman Beyer has fought tirelessly to confront the disparity of income that is undermining the confidence of millions of hard-working Americans,” Pelosi said in a news release. “At the helm of the JEC, his skilled leadership and firm values will be essential to bring meaningful progress that strengthens our economy, protects American workers and makes a difference in the lives of the American people.”

Pelosi’s recommendation of Beyer for the vice chairman position needs to be confirmed by a vote of the whole committee to take effect.

The JEC is tasked with examining U.S. economic conditions and making recommendations about how to grow the economy. The panel holds hearings annually with the chairmen of the Federal Reserve and the White House Council of Economic Advisers and holds hearings on other economic matters.

The JEC contains members from both the House and the Senate, with the chairman alternating between the two chambers. In the current Congress, the committee’s chairman is Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah.). In 2021, the chairman of the committee will come from the House and is likely to be Beyer if Democrats maintain their majority in the chamber.

Beyer, who represents Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, also serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. He’s a member of both the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the more moderate New Democrat Coalition.

“Stewardship of the U.S. economy is one of the most important challenges facing Congress, and I will approach this responsibility with the gravity it deserves,” Beyer said.

He added that he’ll draw upon his past experiences in government and business as well as his progressive values “in the fight to address the major economic challenges of our time, including growing inequality, wage stagnation, the climate crisis, and the cost of healthcare.”