Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., has been named chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation for the remainder of the 115th Congress.
The office of Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, made the announcement Monday. The subcommittee is one of six under Transportation and Infrastructure.
Mast replaces Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-Calif., who was indicted with his wife, Margaret, by a federal grand jury on Aug. 21 on charges that they converted more than $250,000 in campaign funds to pay for personal expenses and filed false campaign finance records with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., immediately moved to sanction Hunter and remove him from his committee assignments.
Hunter was not mentioned in Monday’s announcement.
“Oversight of the Coast Guard and the nation’s maritime transportation system is a vital responsibility of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Coast Guard, as one of the nation’s five armed services, conducts an array of critical missions on behalf of the American people,” Shuster said in the statement. “Brian is an effective member of this subcommittee and has a firm grasp of the issues. He understands the critical nature of the Coast Guard’s missions and is ready to take the gavel.”
Mast said, “Maritime transportation is a critical issue for Florida and the Coast Guard has an important presence in our state, which is why I asked Chairman Bill Shuster for the opportunity to take on leadership of this subcommittee. The Coast Guard plays an essential role in maintaining the rule of law on our waterways, including securing our borders and enforcing marine pollution laws. Working together, I’m confident we can ensure they have the tools they need to succeed at these critical missions.”
During Hunter’s congressional career, he has received $6,369,487 in campaign contributions, according to the Center for Responsive Politics website opensecrets.org. It said $256,637 came from the “sea transport” industry.
The Department of Justice said a 48-page indictment “details scores of instances beginning in 2009 and continuing through 2016 in which the Hunters illegally used campaign money to pay for personal expenses that they could not otherwise afford.”
The office of Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, made the announcement Monday. The subcommittee is one of six under Transportation and Infrastructure.
Mast replaces Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-Calif., who was indicted with his wife, Margaret, by a federal grand jury on Aug. 21 on charges that they converted more than $250,000 in campaign funds to pay for personal expenses and filed false campaign finance records with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., immediately moved to sanction Hunter and remove him from his committee assignments.
Hunter was not mentioned in Monday’s announcement.
“Oversight of the Coast Guard and the nation’s maritime transportation system is a vital responsibility of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Coast Guard, as one of the nation’s five armed services, conducts an array of critical missions on behalf of the American people,” Shuster said in the statement. “Brian is an effective member of this subcommittee and has a firm grasp of the issues. He understands the critical nature of the Coast Guard’s missions and is ready to take the gavel.”
Mast said, “Maritime transportation is a critical issue for Florida and the Coast Guard has an important presence in our state, which is why I asked Chairman Bill Shuster for the opportunity to take on leadership of this subcommittee. The Coast Guard plays an essential role in maintaining the rule of law on our waterways, including securing our borders and enforcing marine pollution laws. Working together, I’m confident we can ensure they have the tools they need to succeed at these critical missions.”
During Hunter’s congressional career, he has received $6,369,487 in campaign contributions, according to the Center for Responsive Politics website opensecrets.org. It said $256,637 came from the “sea transport” industry.
The Department of Justice said a 48-page indictment “details scores of instances beginning in 2009 and continuing through 2016 in which the Hunters illegally used campaign money to pay for personal expenses that they could not otherwise afford.”