House Committee Chairs for the 110th Congress, 2007-08

In December 2006, new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced the slate of Democrats who will serve as chairs of House Committees for the 110th Congress, which is in session from January 2007 to December 2008.

While most bills can be initially proposed in both the House and Senate, legislation to increase taxes and other federal revenue, or to expend federal funds must originate in the House. Thus, House Committees hold great influence over U.S. policies and budgetary matters.

House Committee chairs are powerful and highly sought after, and are determined based on expertise, leadership on the issue and seniority.

House committees will be chaired in the 110th Congress by the following members of Congress:

Ways & Means

Rep. Charles Rangel (17-terms, New York City) will wield great authority over this committee that handles taxation and trade matters, among others.

Rangel has consistently opposed the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, and may not support renewal the President's fast-track approval of trade deals without Congressional oversight.

Armed Forces

Rep. Ike Skelton (14-terms, Missouri) has been the ranking Democrat on this committee for 8 years. Although he voted for the Iraq War, he expressed concerns about troop readiness.

In October 2006, Skelton said that he is "deeply concerned about any measure of success in Iraq unless there is a major change in strategy that will shift the military mission to the Iraqis, allowing for the redeployment over time of American forces..."

Skelton told Newsweek magazine that the Armed Forces Committee plans "oversight, oversight, oversight" in the 110th Congress.

Natural Resources

Rep. Nick Rahall (15 terms, from West Virginia) plans to reverse this committee's course of the last decade, which attempted to increase oil drilling in protected areas such as the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, privatize public lands, and weakened environmental protections laws.

Rahall wants to repeal Republican legislation giving oil companies breaks on royalty payments, and to rewrite mining laws to afford better environmental controls. He vows strengthened oversight of the Interior Department.

Oversight & Government Reform

Rep. Henry Waxman (15 terms, from West LA, Santa Monica) is a vocal critic of the Bush Administration, although he has a decades-long reputation as a vigorous auditor/investigator.

While his priorities are health and environmental issues, he's also openly anxious to lead oversight of Iraq War spending and contracts.

Judiciary

Rep. John Conyers (20 terms, from Michigan), a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, released "What Went Wrong In Ohio: The Conyers Report On The 2004 Presidential Election" in May 2005, a report that details voter suppression and irregularities in the 2004 elections.

And in August 2006, activist Conyers released a report compiling evidence that the Bush Administration altered intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq.

Rep. Conyers is expected to push for broad immigration reform, and for close scrutiny of the Patriot Act for Constitutional liberties violations.

Energy & Commerce

Rep. John Dingell (26 terms, from Michigan), who previously chaired this committee from 1981-95, is renowned for strong oversight. One of the most powerful House members, President Bush dubbed Dingell in 2005 "the biggest pain in the ass on Capitol Hill."

Dingell wants to investigate the secretive Cheney meetings with oil industry executives to form U.S. energy policies, and also plans to examine Medicare and Medicaid for fraud involving big pharmaceutical companies and Iraq War contracting practices by the Bush Administration.

Permanent Subcommittee on Intelligence

Rep. Silvestre Reyes (5 terms, from El Paso, Texas), a decorated Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Border Patrol agent, plans to make intelligence in Iraq a top priority, but also vows to focus on "emerging threats" from around the world.

While the press made much of Rep. Jane Harman being passed over to head this committee, moderate Democrat Reyes is imminently qualified and experienced to lead the House in balancing intelligence concerns between national security and civil liberties.

Education & Labor

Rep. George Miller (15 terms, from northern California) was a contributing author of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Miller priorities for education include increase fiscal support for that underfunded Act, and stemming the Bush Administration's cuts in federal college scholarships and grants, including the Pell Grant program, which is the main source of college financing for low-income families.

Homeland Security

Rep. Bennie Thompson (7 terms, from Mississippi), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, became a particularly outspoken advocate for the Gulf Coast after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Thompson promises to provide greater oversight over the beleaguered Homeland Security Department, especially FEMA.

Thompson plans to push legislation to implement many of the 9/11 Commission suggestions, and will revisit public concerns over foreign ownership of U.S. ports.

Appropriations

Rep. David Obey (18 terms, from Wisconsin), the third longest serving House Democrat (after Dingell and Conyers) is widely known for his leadership on ethics, and originated rules requiring members of Congress to publicly disclose their personal financial dealings.

Obey's top priorities will be to finish the work left undone by previous Republican leadership on 9 spending bills, and to increase accountability for appropriations designated for White House spending.

Other House Committee Chairs for 110th Congress

Agriculture - Rep. Collin Peterson (MN)

Budget - Rep. John Spratt (SC)

Ethics - Rep. Stephanie Tubb Jones (OH)

Financial Services - Rep. Barney Frank (MA)

House Administration - Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (CA)

Foreign Relations - Rep. Tom Lantos (CA)

Rules - Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY)

Science & Technology - Rep. Bart Gordon (TN)

Small Business - Rep. Nydia Velaquez (NY)

Transportation & Infrastructure - Rep. James Oberstar (MN)

Veterans' Affairs - Rep. Bob Filner (CA)