Congressional committees to change

Congressional committees to change

Even before voters went to the polls Tuesday, the announced retirements of several senior senators and House members guaranteed changes in the chairman's and ranking member's slot on several major congressional committees.

In the Senate, the departure of Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, opens up the ranking slot on Governmental Affairs. Next in line is Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., whom aides say will make a decision soon on whether to keep his Armed Services ranking post or move to Governmental Affairs. It is generally expected that Levin will stay at Armed Services, which would make Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., the new Governmental Affairs ranking member.

If Levin leaves Armed Services, he would be succeeded by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. The more likely scenario, however, has Bingaman succeeding retiring Sen. Dale Bumpers, D-Ark., as ranking member on the Energy and Natural Resources panel.

Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., who will be 96 next month, has announced his intention to give up his Armed Services chairmanship, and is expected to be succeeded by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., a onetime secretary of the Navy.

Warner, in turn, will give up the chairmanship of the Senate Rules Committee, which has jurisdiction over the campaign finance reform, and will be succeeded by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the leading Senate opponent of the so-called McCain-Feingold reform proposal. Sens. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., and Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, are senior to McConnell, but already chair the Foreign Relations and Appropriations panels, respectively.

In the House, the Rules Committee will see a change in chairmanship. Rep. Gerald Solomon, R-N.Y., is retiring and will be succeeded by Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif. While both are considered solid conservatives, Dreier, who is two decades younger than Solomon, is regarded as less confrontational in style, and is closer to House Speaker Gingrich.

Below is a list of key committees, their members, and vacancies.

Members Of
House Committee On Appropriations
In Order By Seniority Within Party
Nine vacancies (3 R, 6 D) have been created on this committee.
Republicans (34)
LIVINGSTON (R-LA)
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
YOUNG, BILL (R-FL)
REGULA (R-OH)
LEWIS, JERRY (R-CA)
PORTER (R-IL)
ROGERS (R-KY)
SKEEN (R-NM)
WOLF (R-VA)
DELAY (R-TX)
KOLBE (R-AZ)
PACKARD (R-CA)
CALLAHAN (R-AL)
WALSH (R-NY)
TAYLOR, CHARLES (R-NC)
HOBSON (R-OH)
ISTOOK (R-OK)
BONILLA (R-TX)
KNOLLENBERG (R-MI)
MILLER, DAN (R-FL)
DICKEY (R-AR)
KINGSTON (R-GA)
FRELINGHUYSEN (R-NJ)
WICKER (R-MS)
FORBES (R-NY)
NETHERCUTT (R-WA)
CUNNINGHAM (R-CA)
TIAHRT (R-KS)
WAMP (R-TN)
LATHAM (R-IA)
NORTHUP (R-KY)
ADERHOLT (R-AL)
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
Democrats(26)
OBEY (D-WI)
Ranking Minority Member
MURTHA (D-PA)
DICKS (D-WA)
SABO (D-MN)
DIXON (D-CA)
HOYER (D-MD)
MOLLOHAN (D-WV)
KAPTUR (D-OH)
PELOSI (D-CA)
VISCLOSKY (D-IN)
LOWEY (D-NY)
SERRANO (D-NY)
DELAURO (D-CT)
MORAN, JIM (D-VA)
OLVER (D-MA)
PASTOR (D-AZ)
MEEK, CARRIE (D-FL)
PRICE, DAVID (D-NC)
EDWARDS (D-TX)
CRAMER (D-AL)
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***


Members Of
House Committee On Government Reform and Oversight
In Order By Seniority Within Party
One vacancy (1 R, 0 D) has been created on this committee.
Republicans (24)
BURTON (R-IN)
Chairman
GILMAN (R-NY)
HASTERT (R-IL)
MORELLA (R-MD)
SHAYS (R-CT)
COX (R-CA)
Vice-Chairman
ROS-LEHTINEN (R-FL)
MCHUGH (R-NY)
HORN (R-CA)
MICA (R-FL)
DAVIS, THOMAS (R-VA)
MCINTOSH (R-IN)
SOUDER (R-IN)
SCARBOROUGH (R-FL)
SHADEGG (R-AZ)
LATOURETTE (R-OH)
SANFORD (R-SC)
SUNUNU (R-NH)
SESSIONS (R-TX)
PAPPAS (R-NJ)
BARR (R-GA)
MILLER, DAN (R-FL)
LEWIS, RONALD (R-KY)
***VACANCY***
Democrats(19)
WAXMAN (D-CA)
Ranking Minority Member
LANTOS (D-CA)
WISE (D-WV)
OWENS (D-NY)
TOWNS (D-NY)
KANJORSKI (D-PA)
CONDIT (D-CA)
MALONEY, CAROLYN (D-NY)
BARRETT, THOMAS (D-WI)
NORTON (D-DC)
FATTAH (D-PA)
CUMMINGS (D-MD)
KUCINICH (D-OH)
BLAGOJEVICH (D-IL)
DAVIS, DANNY (D-IL)
TIERNEY (D-MA)
TURNER (D-TX)
ALLEN (D-ME)
FORD (D-TN)
Independents (1)
SANDERS (I-VT)


Members Of
House Committee On National Security
In Order By Seniority Within Party
Three vacancies (1 R, 2 D) have been created on this committee.
Republicans (32)
SPENCE (R-SC)
Chairman
STUMP (R-AZ)
HUNTER (R-CA)
KASICH (R-OH)
BATEMAN (R-VA)
HANSEN (R-UT)
WELDON, CURT (R-PA)
HEFLEY (R-CO)
SAXTON (R-NJ)
BUYER (R-IN)
FOWLER (R-FL)
MCHUGH (R-NY)
TALENT (R-MO)
EVERETT (R-AL)
BARTLETT (R-MD)
MCKEON (R-CA)
LEWIS, RONALD (R-KY)
WATTS, J.C. (R-OK)
THORNBERRY (R-TX)
HOSTETTLER (R-IN)
CHAMBLISS (R-GA)
HILLEARY (R-TN)
SCARBOROUGH (R-FL)
JONES (R-NC)
GRAHAM (R-SC)
RYUN (R-KS)
PAPPAS (R-NJ)
RILEY (R-AL)
GIBBONS (R-NV)
GRANGER (R-TX)
BONO, MARY (R-CA)
***VACANCY***
Democrats(27)
SKELTON (D-MO)
Ranking Minority Member
SISISKY (D-VA)
SPRATT (D-SC)
ORTIZ (D-TX)
PICKETT (D-VA)
EVANS (D-IL)
TAYLOR, GENE (D-MS)
ABERCROMBIE (D-HI)
MEEHAN (D-MA)
UNDERWOOD (D-GUAM)
KENNEDY, PATRICK (D-RI)
BLAGOJEVICH (D-IL)
REYES (D-TX)
ALLEN (D-ME)
SNYDER (D-AR)
TURNER (D-TX)
BOYD (D-FL)
SMITH, ADAM (D-WA)
SANCHEZ (D-CA)
MALONEY, JAMES (D-CT)
MCINTYRE (D-NC)
RODRIGUEZ (D-TX)
MCKINNEY (D-GA)
TAUSCHER (D-CA)
BRADY, ROBERT (D-PA)
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***


Members Of
House Committee On the Budget
In Order By Seniority Within Party
Six vacancies (5 R, 1 D) have been created on this committee.
Republicans (24)
KASICH (R-OH)
Chairman
HOBSON (R-OH)
SHAYS (R-CT)
HERGER (R-CA)
SMITH, LAMAR (R-TX)
MILLER, DAN (R-FL)
FRANKS, BOB (R-NJ)
SMITH, NICK (R-MI)
NUSSLE (R-IA)
HOEKSTRA (R-MI)
SHADEGG (R-AZ)
RADANOVICH (R-CA)
BASS (R-NH)
EHRLICH (R-MD)
GUTKNECHT (R-MN)
HILLEARY (R-TN)
GRANGER (R-TX)
SUNUNU (R-NH)
PITTS (R-PA)
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
Democrats(19)
SPRATT (D-SC)
Ranking Minority Member
MCDERMOTT (D-WA)
MOLLOHAN (D-WV)
COSTELLO (D-IL)
MINK (D-HI)
POMEROY (D-ND)
WOOLSEY (D-CA)
ROYBAL-ALLARD (D-CA)
RIVERS (D-MI)
DOGGETT (D-TX)
THOMPSON (D-MS)
CARDIN (D-MD)
MINGE (D-MN)
BENTSEN (D-TX)
DAVIS, JIM (D-FL)
WEYGAND (D-RI)
CLAYTON (D-NC)
PRICE, DAVID (D-NC)
***VACANCY***


Members Of
House Committee On the Judiciary
In Order By Seniority Within Party
Two vacancies (1 R, 1 D) have been created on this committee.
Republicans (21)
HYDE (R-IL)
Chairman
SENSENBRENNER (R-WI)
MCCOLLUM (R-FL)
GEKAS (R-PA)
COBLE (R-NC)
SMITH, LAMAR (R-TX)
GALLEGLY (R-CA)
CANADY (R-FL)
GOODLATTE (R-VA)
BUYER (R-IN)
BRYANT (R-TN)
CHABOT (R-OH)
BARR (R-GA)
JENKINS (R-TN)
HUTCHINSON, ASA (R-AR)
PEASE (R-IN)
CANNON (R-UT)
ROGAN (R-CA)
GRAHAM (R-SC)
BONO, MARY (R-CA)
***VACANCY***
Democrats(16)
CONYERS (D-MI)
Ranking Minority Member
FRANK, BARNEY (D-MA)
BERMAN (D-CA)
BOUCHER (D-VA)
NADLER (D-NY)
SCOTT (D-VA)
WATT, MELVIN (D-NC)
LOFGREN (D-CA)
JACKSON-LEE (D-TX)
WATERS (D-CA)
MEEHAN (D-MA)
DELAHUNT (D-MA)
WEXLER (D-FL)
ROTHMAN (D-NJ)
BARRETT, THOMAS (D-WI)
***VACANCY***


Members Of
House Committee On Veterans' Affairs
In Order By Seniority Within Party
Three vacancies (2 R, 1 D) have been created on this committee.
Republicans (17)
STUMP (R-AZ)
Chairman
SMITH, CHRISTOPHER (R-NJ)
BILIRAKIS (R-FL)
SPENCE (R-SC)
EVERETT (R-AL)
BUYER (R-IN)
QUINN (R-NY)
BACHUS (R-AL)
STEARNS (R-FL)
MORAN, JERRY (R-KS)
COOKSEY (R-LA)
HUTCHINSON, ASA (R-AR)
HAYWORTH (R-AZ)
CHENOWETH (R-ID)
LAHOOD (R-IL)
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
Democrats(13)
EVANS (D-IL)
Ranking Minority Member
FILNER (D-CA)
GUTIERREZ (D-IL)
CLYBURN (D-SC)
BROWN, CORRINE (D-FL)
DOYLE (D-PA)
MASCARA (D-PA)
PETERSON, COLLIN (D-MN)
CARSON (D-IN)
REYES (D-TX)
SNYDER (D-AR)
RODRIGUEZ (D-TX)
***VACANCY***


Members Of
House Committee On Ways and Means
In Order By Seniority Within Party
Four vacancies (3 R, 1 D) have been created on this committee.
Republicans (23)
ARCHER (R-TX)
Chairman
CRANE (R-IL)
THOMAS (R-CA)
SHAW (R-FL)
JOHNSON, NANCY (R-CT)
HOUGHTON (R-NY)
HERGER (R-CA)
MCCRERY (R-LA)
CAMP (R-MI)
RAMSTAD (R-MN)
NUSSLE (R-IA)
JOHNSON, SAM (R-TX)
DUNN (R-WA)
COLLINS (R-GA)
PORTMAN (R-OH)
ENGLISH (R-PA)
WATKINS (R-OK)
HAYWORTH (R-AZ)
WELLER (R-IL)
HULSHOF (R-MO)
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
Democrats(16)
RANGEL (D-NY)
Ranking Minority Member
STARK (D-CA)
MATSUI (D-CA)
COYNE (D-PA)
LEVIN, SANDER (D-MI)
CARDIN (D-MD)
MCDERMOTT (D-WA)
KLECZKA (D-WI)
LEWIS, JOHN (D-GA)
NEAL (D-MA)
MCNULTY (D-NY)
JEFFERSON (D-LA)
TANNER (D-TN)
BECERRA (D-CA)
THURMAN (D-FL)
***VACANCY***


Members Of
Senate Committee On Appropriations
In Order By Seniority Within Party
Two vacancies (1 R, 1 D) have been created on this committee.
Republicans (15)
STEVENS (R-AK)
Chairman
COCHRAN (R-MS)
SPECTER (R-PA)
DOMENICI (R-NM)
BOND (R-MO)
GORTON (R-WA)
MCCONNELL (R-KY)
BURNS (R-MT)
SHELBY (R-AL)
GREGG (R-NH)
BENNETT (R-UT)
CAMPBELL (R-CO)
CRAIG (R-ID)
HUTCHISON (R-TX)
***VACANCY***
Democrats(13)
BYRD (D-WV)
Ranking Minority Member
INOUYE (D-HI)
HOLLINGS (D-SC)
LEAHY (D-VT)
LAUTENBERG (D-NJ)
HARKIN (D-IA)
MIKULSKI (D-MD)
REID, HARRY (D-NV)
KOHL (D-WI)
MURRAY (D-WA)
DORGAN (D-ND)
BOXER (D-CA)
***VACANCY***


Members Of
Senate Committee On Armed Services
In Order By Seniority Within Party
Three vacancies (2 R, 1 D) have been created on this committee.
Republicans (10)
THURMOND (R-SC)
Chairman
WARNER (R-VA)
MCCAIN (R-AZ)
SMITH, ROBERT C. (R-NH)
INHOFE (R-OK)
SANTORUM (R-PA)
SNOWE (R-ME)
ROBERTS (R-KS)
***VACANCY***
***VACANCY***
Democrats(8)
LEVIN, CARL (D-MI)
Ranking Minority Member
KENNEDY, EDWARD (D-MA)
BINGAMAN (D-NM)
BYRD (D-WV)
ROBB (D-VA)
LIEBERMAN (D-CT)
CLELAND (D-GA)
***VACANCY***


Members Of
Senate Committee On the Budget
In Order By Seniority Within Party
No vacancies have been created on this committee.
Republicans (12)
DOMENICI (R-NM)
Chairman
GRASSLEY (R-IA)
NICKLES (R-OK)
GRAMM, PHIL (R-TX)
BOND (R-MO)
GORTON (R-WA)
GREGG (R-NH)
SNOWE (R-ME)
ABRAHAM (R-MI)
FRIST (R-TN)
GRAMS (R-MN)
SMITH, GORDON (R-OR)
Democrats(10)
LAUTENBERG (D-NJ)
Ranking Minority Member
HOLLINGS (D-SC)
CONRAD (D-ND)
FEINGOLD (D-WI)
SARBANES (D-MD)
BOXER (D-CA)
MURRAY (D-WA)
WYDEN (D-OR)
DURBIN (D-IL)
JOHNSON (D-SD)


Members Of
Senate Committee On Governmental Affairs
In Order By Seniority Within Party
One vacancy (0 R, 1 D) has been created on this committee. Ranking Democrat John Glenn is retiring.
Republicans (9)
THOMPSON (R-TN)
Chairman
ROTH (R-DE)
STEVENS (R-AK)
COLLINS (R-ME)
BROWNBACK (R-KS)
DOMENICI (R-NM)
COCHRAN (R-MS)
NICKLES (R-OK)
SPECTER (R-PA)
Democrats(7)
LEVIN, CARL (D-MI)
LIEBERMAN (D-CT)
AKAKA (D-HI)
DURBIN (D-IL)
TORRICELLI (D-NJ)
CLELAND (D-GA)
***VACANCY***


Members Of
Senate Committee On Veterans' Affairs
In Order By Seniority Within Party
No vacancies have been created on this committee.
Republicans (7)
SPECTER (R-PA)
Chairman
THURMOND (R-SC)
MURKOWSKI (R-AK)
JEFFORDS (R-VT)
CAMPBELL (R-CO)
CRAIG (R-ID)
HUTCHINSON, TIM (R-AR)
Democrats(5)
ROCKEFELLER (D-WV)
Ranking Minority Member
GRAHAM, BOB (D-FL)
AKAKA (D-HI)
WELLSTONE (D-MN)
MURRAY (D-WA)


SOURCES: CongressDaily, Legi-Slate, National Journal's Cloakroom staff research.