LaHood spent more than 10 years as a state and federal prosecutor before he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2015. U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, said LaHood’s previous professional experience would help him lead the subcommittee.

“In his brief time in Congress, Darin LaHood has already established himself as an asset to the Science Committee,” Smith said. “His experience as a prosecutor and his focus on ethical, transparent and accountable government will serve him well as vice-chairman of the oversight subcommittee. Rep. LaHood has shown he is committed to eliminating costly and unnecessary regulations that harm his constituents back in Illinois.”

LaHood said that he was “honored and humbled” to be named vice chair of the subcommittee on oversight.

“In central Illinois, everyone from farmers to businesses and consumers are affected by burdensome regulations from unaccountable executive branch agencies and bureaucrats,” LaHood said. “After spending almost a decade as a state and federal prosecutor, I take the role of government oversight very seriously. It is critical that we examine the actions of this administration, especially in light of the plethora of encroaching executive overreach. I will continue to investigate government actions within the jurisdiction of Science, Space and Technology, and work in Congress for the well-being of the 18th district of Illinois.”