The 118th Congress convened earlier this month and has thus far focused on selecting leadership positions and committee assignments that will shape the legislative priorities for the next two years. The new Congress will welcome seven new senators and 74 new House members with a diversity of experiences and backgrounds. The Republicans control the House of Representatives with a 10-seat majority and the Democrats control the Senate 51-49.
Below is a summary of the key players in the 118th Congress.
House and Senate Leadership: After four days of GOP infighting and 15 rounds of voting, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was elected Speaker of the House. To get there, McCarthy had to make significant concessions on House procedure and committee assignments to far-right conservative lawmakers. Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY) was elected House Minority Leader, becoming the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress. Jefferies succeeds Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) who led House Democrats for 20 years. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Mitch McConnell will remain leaders of their respective parties in the Senate.
House and Senate Committees: Although full membership of committees and subcommittees is still being determined, many of the chair and ranking positions have been announced. Below are the chair and ranking members of some of the most influential congressional committees that will drive policy and legislation in the 118th Congress.
House Appropriations: Kay Granger (R-TX) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
House Armed Services: Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Adam Smith (D-WA)
House Energy and Commerce: Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ)
House Foreign Affairs: Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Gregory Meeks (D-NY)
House Homeland Security: Mark Green (R-TN) and Bernie Thompson (D-MS)
House Judiciary: Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Jerry Nadler (D-NY)
House Ways and Means: Jason Smith (R-MO) and Vern Buchanan (D-FL)
Senate Appropriations: Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME)
Senate Armed Services: Jack Reed (D-RI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Senate Energy and Natural Resources: Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY)
Senate Finance: Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Senate Foreign Relations: Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Jim Risch (R-ID)
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rand Paul (R-KY)
Senate Judiciary: Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Appropriation Subcommittee Chairs: For the first time in history, the Senate and House Appropriation Committees will be led by four women: Congresswomen Kay Granger (R-TX) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME).
House Appropriations Chair Granger selected the dozen subcommittee chiefs who are colloquially known as “cardinals.” Each subcommittee chair controls the budgets of key agencies and departments, many with hundreds of billions of dollars within their purview. They will lead hearings with department heads and scrutinize the budgets of those agencies over the next two years. The House ranking members and the Senate Appropriation subcommittees chair and ranking members are expected to be announced shortly.
Labor, Health and Human Services: Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
Legislative Branch: Mark Amodei (R-NV)
Defense: Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs: John Carter (R-TX)
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development: Tom Cole (R-OK)
State and Foreign Operations: Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
Energy and Water: Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)
Agriculture-Rural Development: Andy Harris (R-MD)
Commerce-Justice-Science: Hal Rogers (R-KY)
Interior & Environment: Mike Simpson (R-ID)
Financial Services: Steve Womack (R-AR)
Homeland Security: Dave Joyce (R-OH)
We look forward to working with our clients over the next two years to advance their priorities and interests in the 118th Congress.
Sincerely,
The Bridge Team