Updated: July 22, 4:02 p.m.

Sen. Sherrod Brown was awarded a spot on the Appropriations Committee, his office announced Thursday, filling the vacancy created by the death of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.).

The first-term Ohio Democrat was one of several Members vying for the plum position. Brown’s assignment, which comes in the heat of appropriations season, must be confirmed by the full Senate and could be adopted Thursday.

“This is about Ohio getting its fair share of federal resources that promote economic development,” Brown said in a statement. “For too long, Ohio has been a donor state — with Ohio taxpayers supporting other states by paying out more in federal taxes than our state receives.”

Brown also serves on the Banking, Agriculture, Ethics and Veterans’ Affairs committees. He forfeited his spot on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to serve on the Appropriations panel.

Last month, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) took over as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which Byrd led until his death on June 28. Byrd’s temporary successor, Sen. Carte Goodwin (D-W.Va.), was sworn in Tuesday and is still awaiting committee assignments.