Jerry Lewis: New Moneyman for the Department of Defense
When Congress reconvenes in January, Rep. Jerry Lewis will assume a key position having direct control over the Department of Defense budget. As the new chairman of the House National Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Lewis will be in position to greatly influence the FY 2000 budget for DOD’s 6.1 and 6.2 budget functions.
Lewis, a fairly moderate conservative Republican, represents California’s 40th Congressional District. He comes to his new position from the chairmanship of the House VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. In this assignment, Lewis had jurisdiction over the National Science Foundation and NASA budgets. While Lewis and Ranking Minority Member Louis Stokes (D-OH) had their differences over other budgets, Lewis was friendly toward both NSF and NASA (once calling NASA “my favorite agency in my bill.”) He ran subcommittee hearings in a friendly and open manner. Lewis has, at times, been at odds over a variety of issues with more conservative members of his party.
Lewis assumes the National Security chairmanship with considerable seniority on the panel (Rep. C.W. Bill Young is moving up to become full appropriations chairman.) Lewis is currently chairman of the Technical and Tactical Intelligence Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. About this, his web site biography states, “In this capacity, he is responsible for legislative oversight and budget review of all classified U.S. intelligence and national security activities.”
There is a strong match between this new chairmanship and the congressman’s district. In describing his congressional district, Lewis notes on his web site that it has “four of the nation’s most important military installations -- the Army’s Fort Irwin, the Marine Corps’ Twentynine Palms Base, the Marine Corps logistics base at Barstow, and the Navy’s China Lake Weapons Center. These military facilities play a crucial role in training exercises that keep our armed forces on the cutting edge of readiness.” Lewis’ web site adds that “he is a forceful advocate of critical defense and aerospace jobs in California.”
California’s 40th congressional district is massive, covering nearly one-fifth of California -- about 30,000 square miles. The district includes a few eastern areas of San Bernardino. Other cities includes Highland, Redlands, Yucaipa, Loma Linda (home of the University Medical Center), Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, and Adelanto. Some of Lewis’ constituents make a two-hour commute to Los Angeles to the south.
California State University, San Bernardino; Victor Valley College; and Crafton Hills College are the largest institutions of higher learning in the district (as of 1996.) The Loma Linda University Medical Center/ Diabetic Center is the largest non-governmental employer in the 40th.
Lewis came to Congress after serving on the San Bernardino School Board and in the California Assembly. He describes himself as a “30-year owner of a successful life insurance business.” Lewis has been in the U.S. House since 1979; this fall he was reelected with almost 65% of the vote. He has a B.A. in Government from UCLA. In the current Congress, he sponsored eight bills, none of which have a direct link to defense matters, which is also true of the 137 bills he cosponsored. Among others, Lewis belongs to the Congressional Air Power Caucus and the Congressional Competitiveness Caucus.
Expect Lewis to be a strong supporter of the military as he jostles with other appropriations subcommittee chairs in dividing up next year’s discretionary budget. It will be an interesting first year for the new chairman, as the “firewall” between domestic and discretionary spending will be gone.
