North Carolina’s Republican Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, NC-05, has been tapped by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Lousiana, to chair the powerful US House Committee on Rules. She was ratified by the conference Tuesday morning to succeed retired Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas.

“For two decades, Dr. Foxx has been a stalwart in the House and a leader in multiple policy areas,” Johnson told The Hill. “Her drive and personality have established her as among the most universally respected members of our Republican Conference. Dr. Foxx is an example of how Members should serve, and our Conference will benefit greatly with her at the helm of the influential Rules Committee.”

The Rules chair is a critical post, setting the tone for the narrow Republican majority in the US House and maintaining unity among the caucus for the 119th Congress. Foxx was selected for the role amid other contenders like Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas.

Foxx previously chaired the House Education and the Workforce Committee from 2017 to 2019, and again in 2023, building a reputation as an outspoken, hard-working leader. Prior to that, she served as secretary of the House Republican Conference. She recently led hearings into anti-Israel campus protests last year and has been a firm supporter of President-elect Donald Trump’s policy agenda.

Before running for Congress in 2005, Foxx served 10 years in the North Carolina Senate, representing western areas of the state, including from Watauga County. In 2015 she was named winner of the John Locke Foundation’s James K. Polk Award for Leadership in Public Office.

“Congresswoman Virginia Foxx’s selection as chair of the House Rules Committee highlights her steadfast dedication to conservative principles and her ability to shape the legislative agenda,” said Donald Bryson, CEO of the John Locke Foundation. “As one of the most influential positions in Congress, her leadership will be invaluable in ensuring the needs of her constituents, including those recovering from Hurricane Helene, are prioritized in Washington.”

Foxx speaks at the inaugural gathering of the Carolina Academic Leadership Network (CALN) in 2023.

Foxx also sits on the board of the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal.

“Representative Virginia Foxx is an exceptional choice for Rules Chair,” said president of the Martin Center, Jenna Robinson. “She has extensive legislative experience, a steadfast commitment to conservative principles, and a proven ability to navigate complex policy issues. I expect her time as Rules Chair will be extremely productive.”