Congresswoman Kaptur is a relentless advocate for Northwest Ohio. Her legislative priorities are vast, but top priorities include efforts to stop poorly-negotiated trade agreements, to advocate for increased US-based manufacturing, to protect and improve economic conditions of all Americans including retirement security through earned pensions and Social Security benefits, and to safeguard the natural resource that is Lake Erie. She currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee, which has authority over federal discretionary spending and determines spending levels for the entire federal government through a series of 12 separate annual appropriations bills.
Today she serves as the first woman to serve as Ranking Member on the influential House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, which she considers an honor given the Ninth District stretches much of the southern Lake Erie coastline. In this position, she focuses on efforts to protect the natural resource of Lake Erie and has advocated for American energy independence through increased funding for renewable energy programs and research, such as wind and solar.
Congresswoman Kaptur also serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, which has jurisdiction over the Department of Defense, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Central Intelligence Agency. She uses this assignment to advocate for a number of military assets throughout northern Ohio, such as the Toledo Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing unit in Toledo, and Camp Perry a National Guard training facility located near Port Clinton, which also hosts the Ohio Air National Guard's 200th Red Horse Squadron, and the significant number of defense industrial base manufacturers throughout the district.
Congresswoman Kaptur also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, which has jurisdiction over the Department of the Agriculture (USDA), the USDA Rural Development Agencies, and the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Rep. Kaptur has previously served on the Committees on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, Budget, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth.
Rep. Kaptur is currently the longest-serving woman in the history of Congress and is the second-longest serving current Member on the House Appropriations Committee.