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Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) '78 Selected as Chairman of Ways and Means Committee

On January 5, Congressman Dave Camp (R-Mich.), '78, was formally elected by the United States House of Representatives to serve as the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for the 112th Congress.

"It is a great honor and even greater responsibility to be selected today by my colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for the 112th Congress," stated Congressman Camp upon the announcement of being selected by the Republican Conference to serve as the Ways and Means Committee Chairman. "Our nation is at a crossroads—facing record debt and an unemployment rate stuck at nearly 10 percent. The decisions we make and the policies we put forward will determine whether or not we get this economy back on track and Americans back to work."

Under Camp's leadership, the Ways and Means Committee will focus on creating jobs and reducing federal spending. He states that the committee will directly engage and listen to the American people to ensure those impacted by the policies enacted in Washington have a voice in the process.

The Committee on Ways and Means is the oldest committee of the United States Congress, and is the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives. The committee exercises jurisdiction over revenue and related issues such as tariffs, reciprocal trade agreements and the bonded debt of the United States. Revenue-related aspects of the Social Security system, Medicare and social services programs also fall within the committee's purview.

The roster of committee members who have gone on to serve in higher office is impressive. Eight Presidents and eight Vice Presidents have served on Ways and Means, as have 21 Speakers of the House of Representatives, and four Justices of the Supreme Court.

About Dave Camp

Congressman Dave Camp represents the people of the 4th Congressional District of Michigan. As the head of Ways and Means, Camp is one of the most influential policymakers in Washington, DC, helping to set the nation’s economic, health care and social welfare policies. His committee has sole jurisdiction over tax policy and oversees tariff and trade laws, Medicare, Social Security, and welfare and unemployment programs.

Recognized for decisive breakthroughs on significant legislation since his first days in Congress, Camp’s signature issues include making America more competitive by lowering and simplifying tax rates for individuals, families and employers; reforming health care to focus on wellness and prevention; expanding access to quality, affordable health care through tax free savings accounts; protecting the welfare of our nation’s children through family focused foster care and adoption programs; and, promoting the production and use of alternative energy, which is a growing industry in Michigan and the Fourth Congressional District.