From Deborah White,
Your Guide to US Liberal Politics.
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Dec 14 2006

On November 15, 2006, the new Senate Democratic leadership team announced the slate of Democrats who will serve as Chairs of the various Senate Committees for the 110th Congress, which is in session from January 2007 to December 2008.

Since the US Senate was intentionally designed to be the more deliberative of the two houses of Congress, much Senate business is accomplished by its 16 standing committees and 4 special committees, including the review of bills, approval or blocking of presidential nominations, and oversight of the executive branch.

Committee chairs are highly sought after, and are determined by party leadership based on seniority, expertise and proven interest.

The US Senate's 20 committees will be chaired in the 110th Congress by the following long-serving Democratic senators:

Appropriations Committee - Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, now serving his ninth Senate term, first joined the Appropriations Committee in 1959, and last chaired it from 1989-94.

Judiciary Committee - Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, now serving his fifth Senate term, is a top critic of Bush policies, including judicial nominations, which must all pass this committee before Senate approval.

Foreign Relations Committee - Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, now serving his sixth Senate term, is a Senate foreign policy expert.

Budget Committee - Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, now serving his fourth full Senate term, is a renowned advocate of fiscal discipline and a fierce defender of the integrity of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds. He's also a vocal critic of Bush spending politics.

Homeland Security Committee- Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, now serving his fourth Senate term

Armed Forces Committee - Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, now serving his fifth Senate term, led an unsuccessful effort in June 2006 to pass a resolution urging President Bush to begin withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

Environment & Public Works Committee - Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, now serving her third Senate term, promises hearings on global warming and the impact of toxics on public health.

Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee - Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, now serving his eighth full Senate term, was co-author of the No Child Lefr Behind act, although he strongly objects to Bush Administration underfundng of the act.

Energy & Natural Resources Committee - Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico , now serving his fifth Senate term, is a strong advocate of energy conservation and preservation of natural resources.

Rules & Administration Committee - Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California , now serving her third full Senate term

Agriculture Committee - Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, now serving his third Senate term

Select Committee on Intelligence - Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, now serving his fourth Senate term

Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee - Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, now serving his fifth Senate term

Veterans Affairs Committee - Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, now serving his third full Senate term

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee - Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, now serving his fourth Senate term

Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee - Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, now serving his eighth Senate term

Finance Committee - Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, now serving his fifth Senate term, set as his priorities in 2007-08 as addressing the rising cost of Medicare and other health costs. He calls the Bush plan to privatize Social Security "dead." He also looks to expand trade agreement, but with protections for US jobs.

Indian Affairs Committee - Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, now serving his third Senate term

Select Committee on Ethics - Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota, now serving his second Senate term

Select Committee on Aging - Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, now serving his fourth Senate term