In November, Congressman Bill Shuster was elected to his first full term to the United States Congress representing the Ninth Congressional District. Yesterday, the Republican from Hollidaysburg was named Assistant Majority Whip for the 108th Congress.
Shuster will assist incoming Majority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri.
The appointment is recognition from House Leadership of the hard work that Congressman Shuster has done since his arrival in Congress, both on behalf of the people of the Ninth Congressional District and for his work to craft legislation that impacts the country as a whole.
Blunt succeeds Tom Delay as the majority whip. Delay succeeded Dick Armey as House Majority Leader.
“Bill will be an excellent addition to our Whip organization,” said Blunt. “I am pleased that he has agreed to do this very important job. Bill Shuster’s new role will give Pennsylvania’s Ninth District an even bigger voice in the decision making process in the House. This is a real win for Pennsylvania.”
The Whip’s office is responsible for counting votes to get bills passed and also to help bring votes towards bills on the floor.
The term Whip comes from Whipper, a British fox hunting term. The whipper was the person responsible for keeping the dogs from straying during the hunt. The first whip was James Tawney of Minnesota in 1897.
“This gives the Congressman a seat at the table,” said Shuster’s Press Secretary Angelo Terrana. “It’s a vote of confidence from the leadership. They have asked Bill to go on trips to Afghanistan and Cuba and he has filed reports to the Leadership. Bill has stepped up to the plate when called upon.”
“I am very grateful that Representative Blunt has the confidence in me to name me to his team,” said Shuster. “As I take up this new position, I will wok hard to make sure that the people of the Ninth Congressional District are the main beneficiaries of my new position.”
Shuster will be part of the Whip meetings as Bills get written.
“When there is a bill on the table concerning funding for rural hospitals, Bill can work for funding for the local hospitals in the Ninth District,” said Terrana. “This is definitely a win for Central Pennsylvania.”
The 108th Congress comes back opens in January.
