U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, has become the second Upstate congressman to help President-elect Donald Trump’s transition into the White House.
Trump announced that Reed, re-elected last month to a fourth term in the House of Representatives, would serve as a vice chairman of the Trump-Pence presidential transition team.
Reed, who was one of Trump’s earliest presidential primary supporters from New York, was one of seven vice chairmen announced on Wednesday. There are more than 40 vice chairmen in all. Reed was unwavering in his support of Trump during the primaries and in the general election.
“We are both honored and humbled to be selected as a vice-chair for President-Elect Trump’s
transition team,” Reed said in a statement.
“We care about the future of our country and recognize that this is a massive undertaking
at a pivotal moment in our history,” Reed said. “It’s only right that we remain committed to bringing our best efforts to the table to make our country strong and prosperous. We are glad to serve the alongside those on the team and look forward to getting to work.”
U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence, who was the first congressman to endorse Trump, was earlier named the congressional liaison transition team, and is also a transition team vice chairman.
Brandy Brown, Reed’s congressional communications director, said Reed’s responsibilities as a vice chairman on the transition team will be two-fold:
• He will be responsible for making recommendations on White House staff “to make sure the new administration can hit the ground running” and;
• He will be involved in “recommending policy priorities” from a list of issues where proposed changes are being considered.
“It’s very exciting,” Brown said of the appointment. “Tom recognizes the weight of the responsibility. He’s really looking forward to it.”
Reed has scheduled a media conference call for this morning where he is expected to discuss his role as a vice chairman of the transition team.
The other six Republican transition team vice chairmen announced Wednesday include Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington; Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Kathleen Troia “K.T.” McFarland, who Trump has appointed as a deputy national security adviser.
They join more than 30 other vice chairs that include Dr. Ben Carson; New Jersey Governor Chris Christie; Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Ret. USA; Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.; and Reps. Lou Barletta and Tom Marino, R-Pa.
Also named as vice chairs of the presidential transition team are Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi; Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C.; son-in-law Jared Kushner; sons Donald Trump Jr., and Eric Trump; daughter Ivanka Trump; Republican National Committee Chairman and incoming White House Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus; and Trump Campaign CEO and incoming Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor to the President, Stephen K. Bannon.
