!We imagine AP will send a story soon. Until then, here’s excerpts from Sen. Pat Roberts’ press release making it official – he’s off the Intelligence Committee, and moving to the Finance Committee. He is also leaving the Senate Armed Services Committee._WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today won a key committee assignment on the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction on a wide-range of legislation from tax and trade to health care, Medicare and Social Security, issues impacting all Kansas families._ _Roberts joins the Finance Committee after four years of service as Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “It has been my honor to work for the nation on efforts to improve our intelligence gathering capabilities, better enabling us to prevent terrorism at home and abroad,” Roberts said. “But with the opportunity to bring a Kansas voice to the Finance Committee, I believe the time is right to make this move.”__”These committee assignments will allow me to work on the issues that are important to the daily lives and pocketbooks of all Kansans,” Senator Roberts said. “I am especially honored to reclaim Senator Bob Dole’s seat on the Senate Finance Committee for the people of Kansas.”__Senator Roberts will continue to play a key role in agriculture as a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He will also continue service on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Senate Ethics Committee._ _”With one in four jobs in Kansas dependent on international trade, the Finance Committee, with responsibility for all trade agreements, is an important assignment for Kansas,” Roberts said. “In 2005, the state exported $6.7 billion in total products. This position will allow me to be more directly involved in World Trade Organization issues related to agriculture, aircraft, manufacturing and bilateral free trade agreements, and it will allow me to more forcefully push for a resumption of beef exports with many of our trade partners.”__Senator Roberts will also serve the Senate and people of Kansas as a member of the Senate Ethics Committee. “As public servants, it is our duty to adhere to the highest level of ethics and conduct possible. I look forward to continuing my service on this committee that ensures members of the Senate and their staffs act according to the rules of the Senate.” Senator Roberts is a former Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics._ _At this time, due to internal limits on committee assignments within the Senate, Roberts will also step off of the Senate Armed Services Committee. _We’ll return tomorrow with reaction.