Chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) declared her official retirement from Congress on Thursday.
Elected to the House in 2004, the Washington Republican is the first woman to hold the position of chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Spokane is located within her current 5th congressional district in Washington state.
Having been appointed to the Energy and Commerce Committee in 2010, the Washington lawmaker won the contest for the position of ranking Republican on the committee in 2020.
She assumed committee leadership at the onset of 2023, when the Republicans seized control of the House.
She was not subject to a term limit the following year and could have potentially run for head of the next Congress, assuming the Republican Party maintained its majority.
“It’s been the honor and privilege of my life to represent the people of Eastern Washington in Congress. They inspire me every day. They are part of the strength and soul of America — the greatest experiment in self-governance the world has ever known.” Rodgers said in a statement.
“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided the time has come to serve them in new ways. I will not be running for re-election to the People’s House,”she continued.
“Especially as Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I’ve seen the best of Eastern Washington and the United States of America. We will spend this year honoring the Committee’s rich history — plowing the hard ground necessary to legislate on solutions to make people’s lives better and ensure America wins the future.” she concluded.
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