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By Matt Fuller, Emma Dumain, and Connor O'Brien Posted at 3:21 p.m. on Jan. 8

Schiff named ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that California Democrat Adam B. Schiff will be the next ranking member on the Intelligence Committee.

As a senior member of the Intelligence Committee, Congressman Schiff has been a vital voice on the most pressing national security challenges of our time, including counter terrorism efforts and challenges in the Middle East, Pelosi said in a statement. He has proven himself to be a capable leader and a proponent of surveillance reforms.

Pelosi said Schiff who has previously served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Committee and the Intelligence panel had impeccable national security credentials.

Schiff, who has been on the Intelligence panel since 2008, is widely seen as a more critical watchdog of the National Security Agency. The former ranking Democrat, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, was a staunch supporter of the NSA, which has its headquarters in his Maryland district.

Pelosi noted in her statement announcing Schiffs new role that the Intelligence Committee was tasked withpreserving our national security while protecting the civil liberties and privacy of Americans.

Whether thats a shot at Ruppersberger in any way isnt clear. Pelosi was more than effusive to Ruppersberger in her statement, thanking him for his time on the panel and calling hima steadfast protector of our national security, a leader in cybersecurity, and a distinguished mind on technical programs critical to our intelligence infrastructure.

She also called Ruppersberger a great American patriot.

Ruppersberger said back in December that he expected to be term-limited, though he noted it was basically Nancys call.

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Schiff Named Top Democrat on Intelligence Panel