Pennsylvania’s newest U.S. senator says the committee assignments he received earlier this month are a perfect match for his priorities while representing the people of Pennsylvania.

Dealing with finances and foreign policy, they certainly appear to be a good fit for a military veteran who once oversaw a global hedge fund.

Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) told DVJournal during a podcast he’s been assigned to the Banking, Energy and Foreign Relations Committees.

“I’m on the Energy Committee. I asked for that. I got it,” McCormick said.

“I’m on the Banking Committee, where I can deal with sanctions on China, sanctions on Iran, and where I can deal with crypto, which is a big deal in Pennsylvania, as you all know.

“And I’m on the Foreign Relations Committee where, among other things, I’ll be dealing with Israel and Iran and antisemitism, which is one of the issues I talked about on the campaign trail.”

Technically they are the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee; the Energy and Natural Resources Committee; and the Foreign Relations Committee.

McCormick has also been appointed to two special committees: The Special Committee on Aging and the Joint Economic Committee.

McCormick acknowledges he’s the most junior senator in the GOP caucus, but he says having these important committee assignments, and the importance of Pennsylvania in electoral politics, will help him have an outsized influence in the body.

“I’m from Pennsylvania, and I won the tightest race in the country. And so I think I’ve got a big voice, and I think I can help, hopefully nudge things in the right direction,” McCormick said.

McCormick said he’s also building bridges across the aisle with his fellow Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) The two senators and their wives recently had dinner together.

“We went to a Brazilian restaurant because his wife’s Brazilian, and it was just like he tweeted: ‘Two dudes, two better halves, plus bipartisanship in 67 counties equals a stronger Pennsylvania, ” McCormick said.

“He’s a direct guy. I like him. I don’t think we’re going to agree on everything, but I think we’ll disagree agreeably. And I do think there are going to be some things we can work on together.”

For McCormick, the desire to serve the state as opposed to a political party is the right approach.

“He (Fetterman) has the same mindset I do. I’m a Republican, but I represent every single Pennsylvanian. He’s a Democrat. He represents every single Pennsylvania. We agree on a lot, particularly as it relates to working families. I’m looking forward to working with him.”