Cook, New Congressman for Yucaipa, Announces Committee Appointments

The new congressman for Yucaipa, former state assemblyman Paul Cook, announced his committee assignments for the 113th Congress on Friday.

Cook, R-Yucca Valley, was elected in November to represent the newly-drawn 8th District, which covers more than 20,000 square miles and includes east Mentone, the mountain communities north of Redlands and Loma Linda, Death Valley, the Owens River Valley, and Mono Lake.

His staff are planning to set up Cook's main district office in Apple Valley, Cook's communications director Michael Fresquez said Friday in a phone interview. Other locations are being considered but have not been finalized.

The 8th District also includes the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, the Fort Irwin National Training Center near Barstow, and the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake.

Cook, a retired Marine Corps colonel and Vietnam War veteran, will serve on the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, his staff said. Cook will also serve on the Committee on Veterans Affairs, allowing him to continue his work on behalf of veterans, his staff said.

"Having spent twenty-six years in the US Marine Corps, I've witnessed the impact Washington can have on our troops and their families," Cook said in a statement. "With five military installations in my district, including several of the most important training facilities in the nation, my job is to fight for them so that they can be prepared to defend our country.

"These installations mean a lot to the communities out here, so serving on the Armed Services Committee will ensure that the people of the 8th Congressional District have a strong voice in decisions affecting our local bases," Cook said. "I'm committed to working with Chairman McKeon, and the rest of the committee to keep America strong."

In November, Cook defeated Tea Party-backed candidate Gregg Imus, R-Blue Jay. Imus' supporters include the Mountain Area Tea Party and Redlands Tea Party groups.

Follow Redlands-Loma Linda Patch on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for the free daily newsletter here.