February 23, 2009

The Republican and Democratic leadership in Congress have finalized most committee assignments for the 111^th Congress, including membership on the appropriations and foreign affairs panels with jurisdiction for legislative, oversight, and spending decisions concerning U.S. participation in the United Nations. With increased majorities of 58 to 41 in the Senate (with one seat undecided) and 255 to 178 in the House of Representatives (with two seats vacant), the Democrats hold multiple seat advantages in the committees of both chambers. 

Senate Foreign Relations Committee

With Joe Biden leaving the Senate to serve as Vice President, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) has been chosen as the new chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) remains in place as the Committee’s ranking minority member. New members to the Committee, which has a total of 11 Democrats and 8 Republicans, include Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Jim Risch (R-ID). All but Wicker are freshmen Senators. The Republican seat which had been held by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) remains open, pending resolution of the contested Minnesota Senate race.

The Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Democracy and Human Rights, which conducts oversight of U.S. participation in the United Nations and UN-affiliated organizations, is chaired by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) the senior Republican on the panel.

House Foreign Affairs Committee

Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) return as the chairman and ranking minority member, respectively, of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The Committee includes a total of 27 Democrats and 19 Republicans. Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA) chairs the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, which has jurisdiction over U.S.-UN relations. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) is the ranking minority member on the Subcommittee.

House Appropriations Committee

The House Committee on Appropriations is led by Chairman David Obey (D-WI) and Ranking Member Jerry Lewis (R-CA) and has a total membership consisting of 37 Democrats and 23 Republicans. The Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, with jurisdiction over U.S. contributions to the UN system, is chaired by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY). Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) has replaced Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) as the Subcommittee’s senior Republican member.

Senate Appropriations Committee

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) is the new chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, taking over for Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV). Among the panel’s 17 Democrats and 13 Republicans are the following new members to the Committee in the 111^th Congress: Sens. Mark Pryor (D-AR), Jon Tester (D-MT), Susan Collins (R-ME), George Voinovich (R-OH), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs is led by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking Member Judd Gregg (R-NH).