House Democrats have elected U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, allowing her to continue serving as the top Democrat on a committee responsible for allocating federal dollars. DeLauro’s office announced that news in a Wednesday press release, where she is quoted thanking her colleagues for her appointment in the 119th Congress. ​“Leading Democrats on the committee is a profound responsibility. I remain committed to passing funding bills that reflect our shared values as Americans. “I will fight for bipartisan funding that helps Americans deal with the high cost of living, secures our border, keeps families safe, and protects Americans against extreme weather events and natural disasters while reinforcing United States leadership on the global stage. I will also safeguard Congress’s constitutional power of the purse and oppose any extreme proposals that harm the American people.”Both the House and the Senate have an Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for passing bills that regulate expenditure by the federal government. It’s one of Congress’s most important committees.DeLauro was first elected as chair of the House Appropriations Committee in 2020, when Democrats controlled the House of Representatives and she prevailed over Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Her colleagues then elected her as ranking member in 2022 after Republicans took over the House and Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Tom Cole replaced her as the committee’s chair. DeLauro, who was reelected last month with nearly 60 percent of the vote in a race against Republican challenger Michael Massey, will be serving her 18th two-year term representing New Haven’s U.S. Third Congressional District. Last term, DeLauro served on the House Appropriations Committee’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies subcommittee.