Rep Eric Cantor Steps Down As Majority Leader

On June 11, Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA-07) announced he would step down as Majority Leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Majority Leader Cantor announced he will resign from the No. 2 position effective July 31, but he will remain in Congress until the end of his term in January.

The resignation follows his defeat in the Virginia primary Tuesday night by Dave Brat, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va.  Several Members of Congress have expressed interest in replacing Majority Leader Cantor in leadership, and the Republican Conference is expected to hold an election on June 19.

ASA thanks House Majority Leader Cantor for his support of physician anesthesiologists, including his keynote address at the 2011 Legislative Conference, and for his dedicated service in Congress.  We wish him the best in his future endeavors, and look forward to maintaining a close relationship with House Republican leadership.