By Nathan Duke
In December, Maloney was named vice chairwoman of the Joint Economic Committee, which will be led by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Maloney said the appointment makes her the top-ranking member of the House on the committee. “It has become evident over the past few years that working Americans have been left behind in this economy and they need a strong voice representing them,” she said.Maloney said she previously worked on reports for the committee on debt to foreign countries and the state of the middle class.The congresswoman was previously the senior Democrat on the Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology Subcommittee and has served on the Financial Services Committee since she was sworn in to Congress in 1992. As the new chairwoman of the committee, she said will oversee the U.S. banking industry, which includes more than 22,000 banks, credit unions and thrifts.Other Queens elected officials have benefited from the Democrats taking back the majority in the two houses. U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Astoria) became chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee in early January, taking back office space from Vice President Dick Cheney, who has long occupied a suite in the Capitol Building which is traditionally reserved for the Ways and Means chairman. Rangel has served 31 years on the committee.U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley, who is also chairman of the Queens Democratic Party, also rose in the ranks earlier this year when he was appointed to the Ways and Means Committee.In addition, U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) was named chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. Reach reporter Nathan Duke by email at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
