Topeka ? U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, whose 2nd Congressional District includes west Lawrence, was named Thursday to the House committee that has jurisdiction over tax policy and entitlement programs, such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Starting her second term in Congress, Jenkins will serve on the House Ways and Means Committee as Republicans take control of the House in January.

“I am honored to be the ninth Kansan to ever serve on the House Ways and Means Committee,” Jenkins said.

She said she hoped the next Congress “led by the Republican majority, will enact responsible measures that will right our financial ship and get America back to work.

“More taxes, more spending, more mandates and more bailouts that increase the role of the federal government and place more of a burden on taxpayers are not answers to our problems,” she said.

The Ways and Means committee oversees all revenue-generating measures, and will be key in working on the recently passed federal health reform bill.