The House Armed Services Committee's point person on personnel issues won't give up his subcommittee gavel during his newly announced run for the Senate.
Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., announced Monday his bid for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.
Heck, a three-term congressman, highlighted his military service and deployment to Iraq in his announcement video, promising to make national security and veterans care key parts of his campaign.
He did not mention his work on the House committee, where he chairs the military personnel subcommittee. Heck was the committee's key voice on military retirement reform in the annual defense authorization bill debate this spring, and has promised to take up military medical reform this fall.
Heck's staff said the Senate run will not disrupt those plans, and he will continue in that leadership role on the committee during his campaign.
House rules do not require representatives to give up leadership posts during a run for other positions, but lawmakers will, on occasion, set aside those responsibilities to focus on their campaigns.
If Heck is elected to the Senate next year, the move would give the military personnel subcommittee its third new chairman in four years.
Heck is an Army Reserve brigadier general with 24 years of service. Republicans have eyed Reid's retirement as a potential swing seat in 2016, likely bringing extra national attention to the Nevada fight.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
