LAS VEGAS (AP) — House Democratic leaders have made recently re-elected Congresswoman Susie Lee of Nevada's 2nd District a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee.

The committee seat is a political plum for Lee and a measure of increased clout for the state, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The House Appropriations Committee, like its Senate counterpart, plays an important role in determining federal spending.

Lee's elevation puts her on the committee along with a Nevada Republican, Rep. Mark Amodei.

Lee said she wants to make sure that federal funding for the pandemic is “put to good use" and that she would oppose any future funding to revive the process to develop the Yucca Mountain nuclear repository.

“Nevadans also know all too well the yearly push in Congress to direct funds toward dumping nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. It won’t happen on my watch. I will make sure that not a single taxpayer dollar goes towards the revival of Yucca Mountain," Lee said in a statement.

Lee is likely to face Republican opposition in 2022 in a swing district in the 2022 midterm election.