According to the campaign, the Republican from California will be a member of the executive committee leading President-elect Donald Trump’s Presidential Transition Team.
The seven-term Republican from Tulare is chairman of the House Select Intelligence Committee.
Nunes, whose family emigrated from the Azores during the first half of the 20th century, is joined by 15 others on the team, including Trump’s children who will help make hiring decisions ahead of Trump’s January
swearing-in.
In a statement, Congressman Nunes said: “I was honoured to have been named to the executive committee of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team. In this role, I will advise President-elect Trump on the appointments of his Cabinet members and on appointments to other top positions in the new administration. I look forward to helping to assemble an energetic and forward-looking team that will capably lead our country toward more economic growth, greater opportunity, and a safer homeland for all
Americans.”
Devin Nunes has also attracted attention in Portugal due to his roots. The former deputy prime minister of Portugal, Paulo Portas, recently described Nunes as “one of the eight most influential statesmen” in America.
At 42 years old, Nunes is also the youngest Member of Congress in history to serve as chairman of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
The Congressman is the author of Restoring the Republic, published in September 2010.
In the book, Nunes lays down the argument for a “simpler and fairer tax code that will restore economic growth” in the United States along with a better foreign policy to protect the country’s interests. He also calls for reforms that will keep “Social Security and Medicare from bankrupting the Treasury”, while also presenting proposals to reduce American dependency on Middle East oil and how it can “become an energy powerhouse”.
Following the publication of this hard-hitting book, Time magazine named him one of the ‘40 under- 40’ rising stars of American politics - their top forty civic leaders under 40-years-old.
Nunes has also recently attributed his rise in American politics to his Portuguese upbringing.
His family has operated a farm in Tulare County for three generations and like many families in the Central Valley, the Nunes family is of Portuguese-Azorean heritage.
In comments to The Hill, which covers news about Congress, Nunes said: “Portuguese families have strong work ethics, and they work hard no matter what industry they’re in.”
Nunes has also been vocal in criticism of President Obama, especially of the so-called Obamacare health system which could have its days counted under a Trump presidency.
Writing on his personal blog last week, Devin Nunes called for widespread healthcare reforms: “As Obamacare continues its death spiral, House Republicans are proposing far-reaching healthcare reforms that would lower costs, increase competition, expand choice, guarantee coverage, and accelerate medical breakthroughs.”
Another Portuguese-descendant, David Valadao, 39, whose family emigrated to California in 1969, was also victorious in last week’s elections, winning the state’s 21st Congressional District.
But despite being a Republican, it is unlikely Valadao will be forming part of Trump’s team in the near future.
The Congressman is a staunch supporter of immigration reform, but did not place his weight behind Donald Trump.
His policies on immigration have attracted attention, partly due to the fact that he is a Republican.
In a recent position on immigration, Valadao explained: “As the son of immigrants, immigration reform is an issue close to my heart.
He added: “Our current immigration system is broken, and it must be fixed. For too long, extremes on either side of the aisle have discouraged real and meaningful discussion regarding immigration. I believe it is time to act on this pressing issue. It is the responsibility of those in Congress to implement fair and balanced legal immigration policies while still respecting the rule of law.”