House Agriculture Appropriations Chairman Andy Harris on Friday said he’d decided to stick with his current role rather than move over to claim the vacant Homeland Security Subcommittee gavel.
That decision paves the way for Mark Amodei, R-Nev., to take the DHS subcommittee reins, according to sources familiar with the discussions. New House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said he’d have a formal announcement on the full lineup of cardinals, as subcommittee chairs are known, later on Friday.
Harris’ decision was closely watched because of the potential for a domino effect on other subcommittees. Also, the Freedom Caucus member was considered likely to try to push the DHS panel’s product to the right on immigration-related issues — although on temporary visas for seasonal workers like Chesapeake Bay crab processors, Harris has sometimes been at odds with his more conservative colleagues.
