PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – When the new Congress is sworn in a few weeks, one freshman will get a rare assignment. 

The three new Republicans will take office soon. Two of them got good appointments. Mike Fitzpatrick was appointed to a financial services committee and Jon Runyan to armed services.

But the congressman-elect from Delaware County Pat Meehan hit the jackpot. The Republican leadership has named Meehan to become chairman of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.

It is rare for a first termer to become chairman of anything, but sources report that Meehan’s work in the area security environment as US attorney was the reason. Some members of congress wait years for a chairmanship.

Reported by Larry Kane, KYW Newsradio