(Washington, D.C.) - A narrowly-avoided federal government shutdown over the weekend likely foreshadows an ongoing struggle for the Congressional purse strings.

 

One local congressman looks to be in the middle of it, going forward. Second District Representative Rudy Yakym announced last week that he has been named to the House Ways and Means Committee.

 

Ways and Means is Congress’ oldest standing committee and has the broadest jurisdiction. It oversees where, and how, the government gets its income. "I am deeply honored and excited by the opportunity to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee in the new Congress," said Rep. Yakym.

 

"This appointment belongs to the people of Indiana’s Second District and gives hardworking Hoosiers a seat at the table when it comes to some of the most important issues and consequential policy debates affecting Americans’ everyday lives, including a 2025 tax law that builds on the success of the 2017 Trump tax cuts."

 

Yakym intends to support President-elect Trump’s pro-growth tax, regulatory, and trade policies. “I look forward to hitting the ground running on Ways and Means under Chairman Jason Smith to deliver on President Trump’s mandate of lower taxes, less red tape and regulations, free, fair, and reciprocal trade agreements, and ushering in a new golden age of American prosperity,” Yakym said. “I absolutely believe that with the right policies, commonsense solutions, and President Trump’s leadership, the best for our country is yet to come.”

 

Yakym’s predecessor, Jackie Walorski, also served on the House Ways and Means Committee. Yakym pledged,

 

“Above all, I will be working every day to uphold my dear late friend Jackie Walorski's legacy on Ways and Means of fighting for Hoosiers and the unique interests of the Second District."