Minnesota Congressman John Kline was chosen June 17 by the House Republican Steering Committee to serve as the ranking Republican on the 50-member Education and Labor Committee.

“I am humbled and honored to be chosen by my peers to take on the challenges of this position in these trying times,” stated Kline, in a press release.

“I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner with Chairman Miller to be an advocate for education and advancing priorities for workers and their employers. Serious battles lie ahead for the Education and Labor Committee. I have earned the trust of my colleagues and stakeholders in the education and labor communities, and I am ready to take the lead.”

Kline replaces Buck McKeon, who last week was named the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. “It has been an honor to serve under the two distinguished chairmen during my tenure on the Education and Labor Committee,” Kline said.

“I will continue in the proud tradition of John Boehner and Buck McKeon, ensuring open lines of communication between Congress and the American worker and the businesses that employ them – and uniting stakeholders behind shared policy goals.”

Kline represents Carver County in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District.