Give a hearty welcome to the 112th Congress

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Comment by TaterSalad on January 6, 2011 at 4:24pm

 

http://www.bankruptingamerica.org/2011/01/06/the-112th-congress/

 

 

Key Leadership and Committees

U.S. SENATE:

Democrats control the U.S. Senate by a margin of 51-47. There are also two Independents.

President of the Senate – Vice President Joe Biden (D): First in line to assume presidency. Officially (but rarely) presides over the Senate; casts vote only to break a tie.

Senate Majority Leader – Harry Reid (D-NV): Sets the schedule and legislative agenda for the chamber. Also serves as chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, which guides Senate Democrats on communications and policy issues.

Assistant Majority Leader (Whip) – Richard Durbin (D-IL): Counts (or “whips”) votes for the Democratic caucus. In the Majority, the Whip typically works to ensure his or her party votes together to pass their legislative priorities.

Senate Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell (R-KY): Promotes unity in his caucus; leads Senate Minority agenda and serves as head of, and lead spokesperson for, Senate Republicans.

Assistant Minority Leader (Whip) – Jon Kyl (R-AZ): Counts (or “whips”) votes for the Republican conference. In the Minority, the Whip typically works to ensure his or her party votes together, often in opposition to the Majority’s bill.

Republican Conference Chair – Lamar Alexander (R-TN): Organizes conference  meetings and guides Senate Republicans on communications and policy issues.

Appropriations Committee – Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI): Leads the crafting of and negotiations on discretionary spending (or appropriations) bills that fund all non-mandatory spending programs and federal government agencies and departments.

Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-MS): Lead Committee Member for the Minority party.

Budget Committee – Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND): Leads the writing of the federal budget and oversight of its implementation.

Ranking Member Judd Gregg (R-NH): Lead Committee Member for the Minority party.

Finance Committee – Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT): Leads the tax writing Committee with jurisdiction over trade issues, U .S. debt, and mandatory spending (such as Social Security and Medicare).

Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA): Lead Committee Member for the Minority party.

Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee – Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA): Oversees federal health, education, employment and retirement policy.

Ranking Member Michael Enzi (R-WY): Lead Committee Member for the Minority party.

For information about the other standing committees in the Senate, start here.

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Republicans control the U.S. House by a margin of 242-193.

Speaker of the House – John Boehner (R-OH): Elected by a majority vote of the entire House. Presides over the House chamber, and is second in line to assume the presidency, behind the Vice President.

House Majority Leader – Eric Cantor (R-VA): Acts as floor leader for the Republicans and helps the Speaker set the schedule and legislative agenda for the chamber. The Majority Leader is chosen by the Members of his or her party.

House Majority Whip – Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): Counts (or “whips”) the party’s votes. In the Majority, the Whip typically works to ensure his or her party votes together to pass their legislative priorities.

House Republican Conference Chair – Jeb Hensarling (R-TX): Organizes conference meetings, and guides House Republicans on communications and policy issues.

House Minority Leader – Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): Remains House Democratic party leader and chief spokesperson; promotes unity in her caucus and directs Minority agenda.

House Minority Whip – Steny Hoyer (D-MD): Counts (or “whips”) the party’s votes. In the Minority, the Whip typically works to ensure his or her party votes together, often in opposition to the Majority’s bill.

House Democratic Caucus Chair – John Larson (D-CT): Organizes caucus meetings, and guides House Democrats on communications and policy issues.

Appropriations Committee – Chairman Harold Rogers (R-KY): Leads the crafting of and negotiations on discretionary spending (or appropriations) bills that fund all non-mandatory spending programs and federal government agencies and departments.

Ranking Member Norm Dicks (D-WA): Lead Committee Member for the Minority party.

Budget Committee – Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI): Leads the writing of the federal budget and oversight of its implementation.

Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen (D-MD): Lead Committee Member for the Minority party.

Financial Services Committee – Chairman Spencer Bauchus (R-AL): Leads the oversight of all components of the nation’s housing and financial services sectors including banking, real estate, public housing, and securities.

Ranking Member Barney Frank (D-MA): Lead Committee Member for the Minority party.

Oversight & Government Reform Committee – Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA): Leads the House’s main investigative committee, which can investigate any matter within the jurisdiction of other standing House committees.

Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD): Lead Committee Member for the Minority party.

Ways & Means Committee – Chairman David Camp (R-MI): Leads tax writing Committee with jurisdiction over trade issues, U.S. debt, and mandatory spending (such as Social Security and Medicare).

Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI): Lead Committee Member for the Minority party.