The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee has selected Rep. Norm Dicks (Wash.) to serve as ranking member on the Appropriations Committee in the 112th Congress, according to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

Dicks’ nomination will have to be approved the entire Democratic Caucus. He would replace retiring Rep. David Obey (Wis.) as the top Democrat on the panel.

Dicks said he “felt good about” his time in front of the steering committee Wednesday, during which he made his case for the job. He gave a four-minute speech before facing nearly an hour of questions from members of the panel.

The Washington Democrat faced a long-shot challenge for the ranking member position from Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.).

The fight between Reps. Sander Levin (Mich.) and Richard Neal (Mass.) for the Ways and Means Committee ranking membership has yet to be decided. The two are expected to go before steering panel members later Wednesday.

Levin took the lead on the tax-writing panel earlier this year after Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) stepped aside amid a series of ethics problems. Neal is sixth in seniority on Ways and Means.