U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) this week received the approval of his Republican colleagues to serve as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations for the remainder of the 115th Congress. Sen. Shelby previously served as vice chairman of the committee for the 113th Congress.

“My colleagues have placed their trust in me to lead the Senate Appropriations Committee, and I am honored to serve our nation in this new capacity,” Shelby said. “This is a remarkable opportunity. I look forward to working with Vice Chairman Leahy and the entire committee as we continue the practice of writing and approving bills that responsibly allocate funding for the activities and duties of the federal government.

“It is a privilege to continue serving the people of the great state of Alabama and the entire nation in this new position of leadership,” he said.

In addition to serving as chairman of the full Committee on Appropriations, Shelby will also assume the chairmanship of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.