Richard C. Shelby, Alabama’s senior senator and the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, announced Monday he would not seek reelection next year — a decision that kick-starts the GOP primary in his home state and will eventually lead to changes on the powerful spending panel.
Shelby’s retirement at the end of the 117th Congress will mark the end of a congressional career that began in 1979 when he joined the House as a Democrat. During his more than four decades on Capitol Hill, Shelby has served on numerous committees, influenced countless pieces of legislation and chaired the Appropriations, Intelligence, Banking and Rules committees.
“Serving in the U.S. Senate has been the opportunity of a lifetime,” Shelby said. “I have done my best to address challenges and find ways to improve the day-to-day lives of all Americans.”
He cited efforts to improve school quality and access to education, Alabama’s role in space exploration and “the utilization of Alabama’s greatest resources, including its unparalleled river system and the Port of Mobile.”
Read more at Rollcall.
