It wasn't easy but Congressman-Elect Tom Macarthur secured one of six open seats on the powerful House Armed Services Committee (HASC) for the incoming 114th Congress.

MacArthur said given the 3rd district's long history of service on the HASC by previous representatives Jim Saxton and Jon Runyan, you'd think it would be somewhat expected and automatic to be assigned to the committee but it turned out not to be the case.

"There's a lot of attention there because of our current engagements around the world and there were a lot of people vying for a very limited number of seats," explained MacArthur.

He said since he won election, he's made a full-court-press with House Steering Committee members to get on the HASC.

"I think in the end, it's just a matter of educating people to make them realize how important the issue is to the district I represent," said MacArthur.

MacArthur's district is home to the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as well as a large contingent of veterans. In a written statement he said, "Through my seat on this committee, I will also be a forceful advocate for policies that seek to achieve lasting peace through military strength and be a strong voice for the large concentration of veterans that call our region home."

He'll join senior Representative Frank Lobiondo on the committee, who's 2nd district also houses the Joint Base.

MacArthur was also named to the House Natural Resources Committee, another important post in vying for funding to replenish the district's beaches and fund Barnegat Bay protections.

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