Lori Trahan elected to Democratic Steering and Policy Committee

By: Jacob Vitali 

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan is entering her third term representing the 3rd Congressional District this January and the local lawmaker is doing so with an important seat at the table.

On Tuesday, Trahan was elected by her congressional peers New England to serve as the region’s representative on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. She will succeed U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire who has represented New England since 2018. Last week, Kuster was elected chair of the New Democrats Coalition, making her the leader of the largest Democratic caucus in the House.

Seen as an extension of House Democratic leadership, Trahan will be one of 25 voices on the committee considering candidates for committee leadership and committee assignments, while also making vote recommendations to the full Democratic caucus.

In an interview Tuesday, Trahan praised Kuster and the influence she has had. She said Kuster was “instrumental” in getting her a spot on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which she intends to continue serving on. 

“We have so much work to do in the way of mental health, opioid addiction, telehealth, making sure that we’re making it easier for people to access health care,” Trahan said.

Trahan also said her involvement on the Consumer Protection Subcommittee and working to protect children online and moving toward a comprehensive privacy policy when it comes to large tech companies.

Locally, Trahan said more work needed to be done on removing PFAS from the water supply and addressing the burden inflation has placed on families.

She said representing New England on the Steering and Policy Committee is another way she can deliver for residents.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, any member of Congress will tell you that the committees you sit on can make or break your ability to deliver for your district,” Trahan said of the committee’s immediate priority.

Advising the caucus as a whole on action that needs to be taken will be “especially important” given that Republicans are set to have just a four seat majority when the new Congress is seated in January.

“Republicans are going to have to work across party lines on most pieces of legislation that they actually hope to get passed into law,” Trahan said.

Trahan’s election by her peers follows the election of Hakeem Jeffries, to be the Democratic minority leader. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced in November that she would not stay in House leadership, stating that the time had come for a “new generation” of leaders.

Trahan said that part of the reason she ran was to continue strong New England leadership at the national level, crediting U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern, chair of the House Rules Committee, and Richard Neal, chair of the Ways and Means Committee.

“I’m really thrilled,” Trahan said, adding that she was proud of Minority Whip-elect Katherine Clark of Revere. “It’s something that she worked so hard for over the years. She’s got incredible relationships across the entire caucus and she’s firmly focused on us winning back the majority and in 2024 and making sure that we fulfill her promise to the people that we represent by delivering and continuing to deliver for them.”