The 113th Congress convened on January 3. Republicans retain control of the House of Representatives by a majority of 234 to 201, a smaller margin than in the 112th Congress. Representative John Boehner (R-OH) was reelected Speaker of the House. Representatives Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will continue to serve as Majority and Minority Leader, respectively. Democrats continue to be the majority in the Senate, with 53 Democrats and 2 Independents who will caucus with the Democrats. This is still short of the 60 votes needed to withstand a Republican filibuster. However, the Senate is expected to consider possible changes to the filibuster process early in the new Congress. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) will again serve as Majority Leader with Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) continuing as Minority Leader.While House and Senate committee assignments have not been fully finalized, some posts have already been announced. The House Committee on Financial Services, formerly chaired by Representative Spencer Bachus (R-AL), is now chaired by Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) is now Ranking Member of the full committee, a position held by former Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) in the 112th Congress. Representative Gary Miller (R-CA) will serve as Committee Vice Chair, and Representative Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) holds the new position of Committee Whip. Representative Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) is now Chair of the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity, a position held in the 112th Congress by former Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL). New Republicans to the Committee on Financial Services are Representatives Garland Barr (R-KY), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), Robert Pittenger (R-NC), Dennis Ross (R-FL), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) and Ann Wagner (R-MO).The House Committee on Appropriations will continue to be chaired by Representative Harold Rogers (R-KY). Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) is now Ranking Member, a position held in the 112th Congress by former Representative Norm Dicks (D-WA). Representative Tom Latham (R-IA) will continue to serve as Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. Republicans new to the House Committee on Appropriations are Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), David Joyce (R-OH), Tom Rooney (R-FL) and David Valadao (R-CA).The House Committee on Ways and Means will continue to be chaired by Representative Dave Camp (R-MI), and Representative Sander Levin (D-MI) will continue to serve as Ranking Member. Republicans new to the committee are Representatives Tim Griffin (R-AR), Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Todd Young (R-IN). Senate Democrats announced committee leadership positions and membership prior to the adjournment of the 112th Congress (see Memo, 12/14/12). These positions were finalized when the 113th Congress convened on January 3, with the notable change of Senator Barbara Mikulski (R-MD) now serving as Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, after the death of former Chair Daniel Inouye (D-HI). Also on January 3, Senate Republicans formally announced Republican committee assignments. Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) will continue as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Republicans newly assigned to the committee are Senators Mike Johanns (R-NE) and John Boozman (R-AR), joining new Democratic members Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).It is expected that Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) will take over the position of Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs from Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), who has reached the end of his term as Ranking Member. However, this shift had not been finalized as of this writing. Republicans newly assigned to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs are Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Dean Heller (R-NV). As previously reported, Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) will continue to chair the Banking Committee. New Democratic members are Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).The Senate Committee on Finance will continue to be chaired by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) retains his role as Ranking Member. Republicans newly assigned to the committee are Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Patrick Toomey (R-PA). Democrats newly assigned to the committee are Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Michael Bennet (D-CO).Full information on Senate Committee assignments will be available at http://1.usa.gov/XrTlzW. Full information on House Committee assignments will be available at http://1.usa.gov/XrTovD.