Rep. Anthony Brindisi has been named to the powerful House Armed Services Committee, a prominent position for a freshman Democrat, his office announced on Wednesday.

“This is an honor and a big deal for Upstate New York,” Brindisi said. “Our district has a rich history of being at the forefront of our national defense and now we will have a bigger seat at the table. From the critical mission in Rome, to the groundbreaking research and manufacturing in the Southern Tier, and the defense jobs across our communities, I cannot wait to use Upstate innovation to continue to keep our country safe.”

Brindisi's 22nd Congressional District, which stretches from the Mohawk Valley in central New York to the Southern Tier region, has defense assets that include the Air Force research laboratory Information Directorate.

“The work conducted at our defense installations in Rome and across our state is critical for our national security,” Brindisi said. “Protecting these installations is important for our regional economy. I look forward to working with stakeholders across upstate New York to find ways to grow the missions of our state’s defense installations.”

Brindisi is facing a potentially difficult re-election next year to a district President Donald Trump won in 2016. Brindisi last month announced he would support a resolution advancing impeachment hearings against the president.