By landing a seat on the House Armed Services Committee, freshman U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris has recorded a significant accomplishment. It is a promising start for a congresswoman in a district where lengthy tenures are the norm. The 5th Congressional District of Eastern Washington had only three representatives in the 60 years preceding McMorris’ election.

It is much too early to speculate about whether McMorris will rise to the influence of her most notable predecessor, former House Speaker Thomas S. Foley, but it’s worth drawing a comparison. Foley launched his 30-year career by getting membership on a committee important to Eastern Washington – the Agriculture Committee.

Over the three decades he served, Foley took a number of votes on high-profile issues that put him at odds with many constituents, but he remained in good graces for so long largely because he was effective on behalf of his district. He earned the respect of colleagues and worked effectively within the congressional system.

McMorris has established some parallels. Fellow freshmen picked her to represent them on the steering committee, which gives out committee assignments. Then she won her own top two committee preferences – Armed Services and Resources.

The former is particularly significant this year as another round of base closures gets under way. Preserving and expanding Fairchild Air Force Base’s role in the nation’s defense picture is critical to the economic well-being of the Spokane area. Ostensibly, the closure process doesn’t lend itself to political tug-of-war, but no community with a military installation wants to be without effective representation at such a time.

Likewise, the Resources Committee will have a lot to say about some of the region’s traditional economic underpinnings, to include forestry and other extraction industries.

Winning desired committee assignments is one thing. Doing something with them will be more important yet.

Among those who have expressed faith in McMorris to come through is the Women Under Forty Political Action Committee, a bipartisan PAC whose purpose is to help young women establish themselves in political office early enough to gain the seniority that ultimately leads to power and leadership. McMorris’ 10 years in the Washington Legislature, including her role as minority leader of the House at 33, impressed WUFPAC. McMorris is the only Republican among four women under 40 who were elected to Congress last November with WUFPAC’s help.

The intent to develop an early start on seniority is significant, possibly ironic given former 5th District Rep. George Nethercutt’s awkward entanglement with the term-limits issue.

On her way to a freshman seminar recently, McMorris told Spokesman-Review reporter Kevin Graman that the relationships she would foster with colleagues of both parties would be “important for years to come.”

That sounds like a woman who intends to serve as long as she can be effective on behalf of her district. Given the pattern of loyalty her district has demonstrated on behalf of Walt Horan (1943-64), Tom Foley (1965-94) and George Nethercutt (1995-2004), and considering her own young age, that could be a long time.

Her performance on the difficult issues facing Congress will be judged in the future, but McMorris is off to an encouraging start.