Unlikely partnership reigns on House appropriations panel

WASHINGTON — When it became clear that Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., would lead the House Appropriations Committee, she received a cherrywood gavel, her name and new title engraved in silver.

It was a gift from Rep. Kay Granger, R-texas, a longtime committee colleague.

“It’s a lady’s gavel,” Granger said this past week, her own engraved red gavel by her side. “Powerful.”

And when Granger secured her position as ranking member, Lowey was the first to call to congratulate her.

Because of their committee ranks, both women represent House party leaders on the bipartisan panel of lawmakers negotiating a compromise on border security, and their unlikely partnership — Lowey, 81, is an ardent liberal, and Granger, 76, is a fierce conservative — is one reason their colleagues believe they can reach an agreement before government funding lapses again on Friday.

Individually, they have shattered a number of glass ceilings in local politics and on Capitol Hill. Lowey was the first woman to oversee the campaign arm for House Democrats; Granger was the first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in the House.

Together they have broken another: It is the first time two women have held the highest leadership positions on the Appropriations Committee, one of the most prestigious panels on Capitol Hill.

Lowey and Granger are leading the negotiations to fund the next fiscal year and reaching a twoyear agreement to avoid a reduction in spending levels. And they will continue to guide debate over funding for border security, especially given speculation that a final deal will involve a multiyear compromise.

Their colleagues say it is the ultimate recognition of two lawmakers who have spent years climbing the ranks, often outside the spotlight, honing their ability at the negotiating table and learning how to work together with colleagues across the aisle.

“It’s not just, Oh, look, we’ve put two women in,” said Sen. Pat Leahy, D-VT., the ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “No, you’ve put two of the absolute best legislators you could have in Congress on there.”