NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Sen. David Vitter says he has been appointed to sit on the U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee — placing the Republican Louisiana politician in the middle of what likely will become major disagreements in the next Congress: Fights over President Obama’s nominee for the attorney general and the president’s move to shield millions of immigrants living in the United States illegally.
Vitter announced his committee assignments Monday.
When Congress returns from the winter break in January, Vitter will be enjoying an elevated position as a member of the GOP, which took control of the Senate in the November midterm elections.
Vitter promised to use his position on the Judiciary Committee to launch attacks on the Obama administration’s agenda.
He said he plans on working to block the nomination of Loretta Lynch, Obama’s nominee for attorney general. He added that one of his “top priorities” will be to work against Obama’s executive action to shield some immigrants from deportation.
“The attorney general is one of the lynchpins to Obama’s amnesty plan,” Vitter said in a statement about Obama’s immigration move, “and I’ll be working to get the new Congress to block this nomination.”
Vitter said he would also become the chairman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and continue sitting on the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Banking Committee.
Vitter will no longer serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee.