WASHINGTON — Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., was appointed Thursday to the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, an assignment he said he has been eyeing for a while.

“This was something, candidly, I had hoped would happen a year ago,” he said. “This could not come at a more opportune time. There are tremendous amounts of capital market reforms that need to be looked at, and ... we’re looking at an economic stimulus package. This committee today is very relevant to many of our country’s ills.”

The committee has jurisdiction over the operation of financial institutions, housing and mass transit programs.

Sen. Corker said his background as a businessman and his interest in financial institutions will be helpful in his new assignment, which came as a result of Sen. Trent Lott’s retirement at the end of December.

The former Mississippi Republican had held a spot on the Senate Finance Committee, which now will be filled by Sen. John Sununi, R-N.H., who gave up his seat on the Banking Committee.

Newly sworn-in Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who succeeded Sen. Lott, has taken Sen. Corker’s former spot on the Armed Services Committee.

Sen. Corker still will serve on the Foreign Relations, Energy and Natural Resources and Small Business and Entrepreneurship committees, along with the Special Committee on Aging.

“I’m thrilled with the mix, especially of Foreign Relations, Energy and Banking,” he said. “I feel like I’m in a position to gain unusual insight and, with those insights, to have a real impact here in the Senate.”

The Banking Committee’s first meeting next week will focus on reducing home foreclosures and stimulating the economy.

“The first and highest priority of this committee in the coming months will be to address the economic challenges facing our people, our businesses and our markets,” said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., chairman of the panel. “People want to know that their leaders understand their struggles and fears and are acting to remedy them.”