Sen. Kyrsten Sinema new chair of Senate panel on border, government efficiency
AZ Republic
Yvonne Wingett Sanchez
Arizona Republic
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is chairing a new Senate subcommittee with jurisdiction over the U.S. borders and government efficiency, a post that could take on greater importance as President Joe Biden and the Democratic-controlled Congress push for comprehensive immigration reform.
Sinema, D-Ariz., will chair the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management.
In a written statement to The Arizona Republic, Sinema said she wants the subcommittee to work in a bipartisan fashion on issues ranging from border security to improving the functions and reliability of the U.S. Postal Service.
Sinema will lead the subcommittee alongside ranking member Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. The new assignment extends the work Sinema and Lankford did together last session on the Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management Subcommittee, where Sinema served as ranking member.
“Arizonans recognize the need for smarter, more effective border security and management — and communities and small businesses across our state rely on the U.S. Postal Service for deliveries of lifesaving prescriptions and critical goods,” Sinema’s statement said. “I’m proud to partner again with Senator Lankford and lead bipartisan efforts to ensure the federal government meets these obligations for Arizona and the nation.
The panel’s jurisdiction also includes American economic competitiveness, the U.S. Census, contracting and energy issues, and regulatory and federal employee policies.
Through the previous iteration of the panel, Sinema and Lankford sought to aid small businesses by reforming federal regulations. In 2019, the Senate passed their legislation to simplify government rule-making and requiring every proposed regulation be accompanied with a 100-word, easily-understandable summary. The bill was not signed into law.
Last session, the Senate also passed the senators’ legislation that sought to strengthen penalties against those who steal or misuse the benefits of federal retirees. That, too, was not signed into law.