Long-time southeastern Missouri Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson announced Monday that she is leaving Congress in February.
The nine term Cape Girardeau Republican just won re-election. Emerson is leaving her post to take over as the CEO of the Arlington, Virginia based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Emerson will begin her new job on March 1, 2013. She takes over for the Association's long-time CEO Glenn English who announced his retirement earlier this year. Emerson says energy has a direct relationship with the vitality of rural America. She says without reliable, affordable electricity millions of Americans would be left without the energy that brings economic opportunity.
Emerson represents Missouri's 8th District. She first took office in 1996 upon the death of her husband who died in office. She serves on the House Appropriations Committee and Chairs the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Appropriations, with oversight of the U.S. Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, and various independent government agencies, including the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the General Services Administration, and the Small Business Administration.
A special election will be held to determine Emerson's replacement.
