When the GOP took control of the House after the 1994 election — and Gingrich was named House speaker — Mr. Lewis became a so-called “cardinal” as the chairman of an appropriations subcommittee. He first led a subcommittee that controlled spending on NASA, veterans’ affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, federal housing and other programs. He later chaired the subcommittee overseeing defense spending.

Source: Washington Post July 18, 2021 00:56 UTC