WASHINGTON — Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) is locked in a competitive three-way race to succeed retiring Rep. Nita Lowey as House Appropriations Committee chairwoman. 

What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Wasserman Shultz represents Florida's 23rd Congressional District

  • She was elected to the U.S. House in 2005 and serves on both the Appropriations and Oversight and Reform Committees

  • She served as Chair of the Democratic National Committee

Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-NY) and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) are also vying for the gavel on the powerful committee in the House of Representatives that oversees all federal spending. All three women competing for the post have significant experience on the panel, although Wasserman Schultz is a much junior member of the committee. 

On Tuesday, she continued to make her final pitch to lead the panel after a year of courting her colleagues.

“I have so many colleagues responding to the case that I have communicated about the essential need for us to bring the appropriations process into the 21st century,” Wasserman Schultz said in a Zoom interview with Spectrum News

In her bid to become the next chairwoman, Wasserman Schultz released a 10-point climate action plan, with the goal of boosting federal spending to combat the crisis.

“In South Florida, global warming and sea level rise are not a someday thing, they are a right now thing. We need to address global warming and climate change across all twelve appropriations bills in every area,” she said.

House Democrats intend to bring back earmarks next session, a tool to direct money to specific member’s districts within a larger spending bill. While critics say this promotes wasteful spending, others like Wasserman Schultz say the change is needed.

“Community-oriented spending is very important,” she said.

“When you have the executive branch making decisions about where the need is – as opposed to those who were elected to represent our communities and know best how to guide that funding. Then, we’re really likely wasting money,” she added.

Wasserman Schultz could be the first Florida Democrat to chair the House Appropriations Committee – a position that could pave the way for new infrastructure funding, defense contracts and other federal spending in the state. 

“It means we will have an opportunity to bring a breath and a wealth of resources to Florida,” she said.

House Democrats are expected to vote next week on this key position, overseeing about $1.4 trillion in federal funding every year.