"I am deeply honored and excited by the opportunity to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee in the new Congress," said Yakym. "This appointment belongs to the people of Indiana’s Second District and gives hardworking Hoosiers a seat at the table when it comes to some of the most important issues and consequential policy debates affecting Americans’ everyday lives, including a 2025 tax law that builds on the success of the 2017 Trump tax cuts."

Yakym said his priorities on the committee will be “working to deliver pro-growth tax, regulatory, and trade policies so our manufacturers, innovators, and job creators can expand, hire, and invest, our agricultural producers can compete and win with our economic competitors, and all families and citizens have their shot at achieving the American Dream. Above all, I will be working every day to uphold my dear late friend Jackie Walorski's legacy on Ways and Means of fighting for Hoosiers and the unique interests of the Second District."

 Yakym added he looks forward to “hitting the ground running on Ways and Means under Chairman Jason Smith to deliver on President Trump’s mandate of lower taxes, less red tape and regulations, free, fair, and reciprocal trade agreements, and ushering in a new golden age of American prosperity. I absolutely believe that with the right policies, commonsense solutions, and President Trump’s leadership, the best for our country is yet to come.”

 Committee chairman Smith said he was pleased to welcome Yakym to the committee, and noted "Indiana’s Second Congressional District has a long history with the Ways and Means Committee, thanks to the incredible service of our dear late colleague, Jackie Walorski. There is no one better equipped to carry on her legacy of work on behalf of the families and workers of Indiana than Rudy. He has already proven to be a strong and effective fighter for Indiana’s farmers, small businesses, and workers, and will be crucial in our effort to extend President Trump’s tax cuts.”

Background:

First established in 1789, the House Ways and Means Committee is the oldest Congressional committee and is the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives.

The committee with the broadest jurisdiction, the Ways and Means Committee is charged with raising revenues for the federal government and exercises jurisdiction over taxes other revenue-raising measures, as well as tariffs, reciprocal trade agreements, and the bonded debt of the United States.

Revenue-related aspects of the Social Security system, Medicare, and social services programs, including foster care and adoption program, have also come under Ways and Means’ purview in the past century.

Since the Committee’s formation, eight Presidents and eight Vice Presidents have served on Ways and Means, as have 21 Speakers of the House of Representatives, and four Justices of the Supreme Court.