A week after Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford was appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the panel announced he will also be one of five members to serve on the House Budget Committee.

“These two committees are at the center of this Congress’ efforts to reduce out-of-pocket health care costs and craft a federal budget that puts government back on the side of the people,” Horsford said in a release. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to give Southern Nevadans a voice on these important panels.”

The budget panel writes the annual spending blueprint for the party in power, which highlights the party’s legislative goals. The spending measure, known as the budget resolution, also determines the caps for annual appropriations.

Horsford sees both assignments as jibing well with his stated priorities of helping reduce prescription drug prices and general health care costs, issues on which he campaigned.

On the Ways and Means Committee, he will serve on the Health Subcommittee, which handles legislation and oversight related to Medicare, a program that provides health care to nearly 500,000 Nevadans 65-years old and older as well as to those with disabilities. The subcommittee is also responsible for legislation and oversight of the Affordable Care Act.

Members of the Ways and Means Committee typically only serve on that panel, but the House requires that Budget Committee membership to include five lawmakers from the Ways and Means Committee, five from the Appropriations Committee, one from the Rules Committee, and one from the leadership of the Democratic and Republican caucuses.

Horsford is the first Nevadan to serve on the Ways and Means Committee since former Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley in 2012.