Rep. Roger Williams has been tapped to helm the House, with Sen. Ben Cardin at the reins in the Senate.
Now that the U.S. House of Representatives has its Speaker, the Republican Steering Committee has officially named Chairs for the various Committees. Under their newly-appointed Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), House Democrats will assume the minority position, with its seniors becoming Ranking Members, and the balance of the makeup of general committee assignments likely to be determined this week.
Stepping up as Chair for the House Small Business Committee, Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) will be working with Ranking Member Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.). The House Small Business Committee oversees the U.S. Small Business Administration and its programs, as well as a host of other key small-business issues including regulatory fairness, federal contracting access to capital and tax fairness. A former car dealer, Chair Williams has been in Congress since 2013.
Across the Capitol, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair will be Sen. Ben Cardin (D-M.D.) and Ranking member is Sen. Rand Paul (R-K.Y.)—both of whom held leadership positions in the previous session of Congress.
NSBA welcomes Chair Williams as he takes leadership of the House Small Business Committee, and looks forward to continuing our work with Sens. Cardin and Paul, and Rep. Velazquez.
Education and Workforce Committee | North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx will become Republican chair, and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) will serve as ranking member for the Dems.
Formerly known as the Education and Labor Committee before a Republican rebrand this Congress, E&W is the committee with authority over labor policy, including federal education and workforce programs.
Rep. Foxx has already served as chair of the committee for three nonconsecutive terms.
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) | Washington Senator Patty Muarry (D) is serving as chair for the 118th Congress, with Republican Senator Richard Burry (NC) serving as ranking member.
The committee began in 1869 as the Committee on Education and in 1884 through the mid-1900s it was known as the Education and Labor Committee. In 1999, then Chairman James Jeffords of Vermont, worked to officially name it the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
Today the Committee is comprised of 22 Senators; 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans. Under their leadership, the Committee is composed of three subcommittees, which have a broad jurisdiction over our country's health care, education, employment, and retirement policies.
Ways & Means | One of the most powerful committees with jurisdiction over tax policy and finance, Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) will become Chair, with Rep. Richie Neal (D-Mass.) serving as Ranking Member.
Senate Committee on Finance | The Finance Committee is the Senate’s counterpart to Ways & Means, and will be chaired by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) with Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) working as its Ranking Member.
As the chief tax-writing panel, W&M (where tax provisions must originate) and Finance have jurisdiction over all taxation matters and programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
Financial Services | Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. will chair the Financial Services Committee, with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) serving as ranking member.
The Financial Services Committee is tasked with the oversight of the financial services industry, like bank policy, including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Treasury and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Rep. McHenry was the committee’s ranking member in the last Congress.
Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs | The Chair is Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). A ranking member has not been named according to the website of the Senate Clerk.
Armed Services | The committee with authority over military policy, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) will chair HASC, with Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) serving as Ranking Member.
The Armed Services Committee oversees and funds the Department of Defense and U.S. Armed Forces. It is annually responsible for the National Defense Authorization Act, which lays out the budget for Defense.
Senate Committee on Armed Services | The Chair is Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.). A ranking member has not been named according to the website of the Senate Clerk.
Homeland Security | Responsible for regulating policy, like border security and TSA, Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) will become Chairman, with Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) serving as Ranking Member.
The Homeland Security Committee has jurisdiction over legislation related to the security of the U.S. and oversees the Department of Homeland Security.
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Gov. Affairs | Chair is Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.). A ranking member has not been named according to the website of the Senate Clerk.
Foreign Affairs | Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) will chair Foreign Affairs, with Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) serving as the senior-most Democrat on the committee.
The Foreign Affairs Committee has broad jurisdiction to oversee legislation and investigations that concern U.S. foreign policy. It also oversees the Department of State.
IN THE SENATE | Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) will continue to chair the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, with Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) continuing his work as its Ranking Member.
Budget | West Texan Republican Jodey Arrington will Chair the Budget Committee alongside Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) as Ranking Member.
This committee will play a big role in coming fights over spending and raising the debt ceiling,
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Ver.) will chair the Senate Committee on the Budget, with Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) working as its Ranking Member.
Oversight | Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) will chair the newly renamed House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, working alongside Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) as ranking member.
The Oversight and Accountability Committee is the main investigative body in the House. Rep. Comer said he will aggressively investigate questionable behavior of federal officials.
Appropriations | Rep. Kay Granger, will continue her reign as chair of the Appropriations Committee, with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) as her Democratic counterpart.
One of the most powerful panels in Congress, the Appropriations Committee allocates federal funds to government agencies and regulates federal expenditures.
IN THE SENATE | A chair nor ranking member have been named at this time according to the website of the Senate Clerk.
Agriculture Committee | Rep. Glen Thompson, R-Pa. will chair the Agriculture Committee, with Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) serving as ranking member.
The Agriculture Committee has jurisdiction over federal agricultural policies and retains oversight duty of a number of federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) will chair the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, with Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) working as its Ranking Member.
Energy and Commerce Committee | Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) will chair, with Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) serving as ranking member.
The Energy and Commerce Committee has oversight of a broad swath of issues, including telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health, energy supply and delivery and foreign and domestic commerce.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources | The Chair is Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.). Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wy.) is its Ranking Member.
Judiciary | Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) will chair, with Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) serving as Ranking Member
The Judiciary Committee oversees federal courts and issues of justice within federal agencies and law enforcement. In the Senate, this committee is responsible for confirming judges and other judicial-related nominees.
Senate Judiciary | TheChair is Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is its Ranking Member.
Natural Resources | Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark) will chair Natural Resources Committee in the House, with Rep. Raul Frijalva (D-Ariz) serving as ranking member.
The Natural Resources Committee considers legislation related to energy production, mining, fisheries, wildlife, public lands and Native Americans.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works | The Chair is Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.). Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) is its Ranking Member.
Science, Space and Technology | Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) will chair alongside Ranking Member Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.).
The Science, Space and Technology Committee has jurisdiction over federal scientific research and development that does not include defense. It includes oversight of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
House Transportation and Infrastructure | Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo) will chair the T&I Committee, with Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wa.) working alongside as Ranking Member.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has jurisdiction over all modes of transportation in the U.S., including roads, highways, dams, skies and railroads.
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee | The Chair is Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) is its Ranking Member.
Veterans’ Affairs | Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) will lead Veterans’ Affairs as chair, with Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) working as Ranking Member.
The Veterans’ Affairs Committee oversees the Department of Veterans Affairs and reviews legislation concerning military veterans.
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) will chair the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) working as its Ranking Member.
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence | Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) will lead this committee, with Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) working as Ranking Member.
The Intelligence Committee is a permanent select committee that is charged with oversight of the U.S. intelligence community, including the Central Intelligence Agency.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virg.) will chair the Select Committee on Intelligence, with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) working as its Vice Chair.
The following committees are exclusive to the Senate with no House counterpart:
Senate Special Committee on Aging | The Chair is Sen. Robert Casey (D-Penn.). Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is its Ranking Member.
Senate Select Committee on Ethics | The Chair is Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.). Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) is its Vice Chair.
Senate Committee on Rules and Administration | The Chair is Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). A ranking member has not been named according to the website of the Senate Clerk.
Check back as NSBA continues to monitor administration of the new 118th Session of Congress and we continue our outreach on behalf of small business owners and their potential to impact the greater economy.