Senate Committees Ready to Work With 50-50 Agreement in Place

Democrats will finally take control of the Senate’s committees now that both parties agreed to an organizing resolution for the 117th Congress.

Though Democrats secured a majority with their victories in two Georgia runoffs on Jan. 5 and the swearing in of Vice President Kamala Harris to break a 50-50 tie, Republicans have maintained committee gavels in the early days of the new session. That allowed Republicans to slow consideration of some of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet picks and led some organizing meetings to be scrapped.

The resolution (S. Res. 27) negotiated by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and adopted by unanimous consent splits committees equally between the two parties, with the top Democrat designated as chair. The panels also will share resources and work space equally.

Read more: BGOV Bill Summary: S. Res. 27, Senate Power-Sharing Agreement

“Committees can promptly set up and get to work with Democrats holding the gavels,” Schumer said as the Senate prepared to approve the resolution. “I’m confident our members are ready to hit the ground running on the most important issues that face our country.”

The chamber also adopted a pair of measures (S. Res. 28. S. Res. 32) with the two parties’ committee rosters that for the most part reflect the roster of leaders in the last Congress, with many top committee Democrats and Republicans switching their roles.

Committee Leaders

The table below shows the committee leaders named for the next two years:

Some GOP leadership roles opened because former chairmen retired at the end of the last Congress. Some churn was also due to GOP rules that limit service in a top job to three Congresses, or six years — though even if the lawmaker spent six years as ranking member, he or she could still serve as chair if the party later controls the chamber.

Panels with new top Republicans include Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Budget; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP); and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Democrats’ Assignments

Schumer announced many of the Democratic assignments earlier this week, including places for the six members elected or appointed since November:

• John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.): Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; HELP; and Small Business. His 2020 rival Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) also served on the panels.
• Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.): Armed Services; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; and Aging.
• Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.): Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Budget; Commerce, Science and Transportation; HELP; and Indian Affairs.
• Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.): Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Judiciary; and Rules and Administration.
• Alex Padilla (D-Calif.): Budget; Environment and Public Works; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Judiciary; and Rules and Administration. Many of the seats were held by Harris before her resignation.
• Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.): Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Aging.

More senior Democrats also received new assignments:

• Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is taking a position on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
• Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) gave up other committees to move on to the Senate Intelligence Committee.
• Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) won a slot at Appropriations that previously was held by Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), who retired last year.
• Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) is moving to Armed Services.
• Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) won a coveted spot at Finance.

See the full list of Democratic committee rosters announced Feb. 2.

Republican Assignments

The four Republican first-term senators were named to the following panels:

• Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.): Appropriations, like his predecessor Lamar Alexander; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Foreign Relations; and Rules and Administration.
• Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.): Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Environment and Public Works.
• Roger Marshall (R-Kan.): Agriculture, which was led by former Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.); Energy and Natural Resources; HELP; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
• Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.): Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Armed Services; HELP; and Veterans’ Affairs.

Among the other changes announced, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) scored a seat on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee for the first time.

See the full list of Republican committee assignments.