Senators and representatives of the 116th Congress were sworn in on January 3, officially kicking off the new congressional term. The Democrats formally took control of the House of Representatives (235-199[1]), while Republicans maintained their majority in the Senate (53-45). Among its first official acts, the House elected Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to again serve as speaker of the House and approved a package of FY19 spending bills to end the partial government shutdown.
Chairs and Ranking Members
Congress has selected new House committee chairs and ranking members. Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) will chair the Committee on Appropriations, while Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) will serve as ranking member. Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) are expected to serve as chair and ranking member, respectively, of the Transportation and HUD (THUD) subcommittee.
Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) is the new chair of the Committee on Financial Services, the first African American and the first woman to serve in that position. Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) will serve as the committee’s ranking member. Richard Neal (D-MA) is the new chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, and Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) is the ranking member.
Senate Democrats and Republicans have also approved committee leadership and committee rosters. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) will continue to chair the Appropriations Committee, with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) serving as ranking member. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) will continue to lead the THUD Appropriations Subcommittee. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) will also continue to serve as chair of the Committee on Banking, with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) serving as ranking member. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) will serve as the new chair of the Finance Committee, with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) serving as the ranking member.
Committee Rosters
Senate Republicans and Democrats have announced committee members for the 116th Congress. House Republican and Democrats have yet to announce their committee rosters.
Senate Appropriations Committee
- Senator Shelby (R-AL) – Chair
- Senator McConnell (R-KY)
- Senator Alexander (R-TN)
- Senator Collins (R-ME)
- Senator Murkowski (R-AK)
- Senator Graham (R-SC)
- Senator Blunt (R-MO)
- Senator Moran (R-KS)
- Senator Hoeven (R-ND)
- Senator Boozman (R-AR)
- Senator Moore Capito (R-WV)
- Senator Kennedy (R-LA)
- Senator Hyde-Smith (MS)
- Senator Daines (R-MT)
- Senator Rubio (R-FL)
- Senator Lankford (R-OK)
- Senator Leahy (D-VT) – Ranking Member
- Senator Murray (D-WA)
- Senator Feinstein (D-CA)
- Senator Durbin (D-IL)
- Senator Reed (D-RI)
- Senator Tester (D-MT)
- Senator Udall (D-NM)
- Senator Shaheen (D-NH)
- Senator Merkley (D-OR)
- Senator Coons (D-DE)
- Senator Schatz (D-HI)
- Senator Baldwin (D-WI)
- Senator Murphy (D-CT)
- Senator Manchin (D-WV)
- Senator Van Hollen (D-MD)
Senate Banking Committee
- Senator Crapo (R-ID) – Chair
- Senator Shelby (R-AL)
- Senator Toomey (R-PA)
- Senator Scott (R-SC)
- Senator Sasse (R-NE)
- Senator Cotton (R-AR)
- Senator Rounds (R-SD)
- Senator Perdue (R-GA)
- Senator Tillis (R-NC)
- Senator Kennedy (R-LA)
- Senator McSally (R-AZ)
- Senator Moran, (R-KS)
- Senator Cramer (R-ND)
- Senator Brown (D-OH) – Ranking Member
- Senator Reed (D-RI)
- Senator Menendez (D-NJ)
- Senator Tester (D-MT)
- Senator Warner (D-VA)
- Senator Warren (D-MA)
- Senator Schatz (D-HI)
- Senator Van Hollen (D-MD)
- Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV)
- Senator Jones (D-AL)
- Senator Smith (D-MN)
- Senator Sinema (D-AZ)
Senate Finance Committee
- Senator Grassley (R-IA)
- Senator Crapo (R-ID)
- Senator Roberts (R-KS)
- Senator Enzi (R-WY)
- Senator Cornyn (R-TX)
- Senator Thune (R-SD)
- Senator Burr (R-NC)
- Senator Isakson (R-GA)
- Senator Portman (R-OH)
- Senator Toomey (R-PA)
- Senator Scott (R-SC)
- Senator Cassidy (R-LA)
- Senator Lankford (R-OK)
- Senator Daines (R-MT)
- Senator Young (R-IN)
- Senator Wyden (D-OR) – Ranking Member
- Senator Stabenow (D-MI)
- Senator Cantwell (D-WA)
- Senator Menendez (D-NJ)
- Senator Carper (D-DE)
- Senator Cardin (D-MD)
- Senator Brown (D-OH)
- Senator Bennet (D-CO)
- Senator Casey (D-PA)
- Senator Warner (D-VA)
- Senator Whitehouse (D-RI)
- Senator Hassan (D-NH)
- Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV)
[1] Due to allegations of election fraud, the election for the 9th district of North Carolina has not been certified and the seat remains vacant.