SRES 17119th CongressIntroduced

A resolution to constitute the minority party's membership on certain committees for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, or until their successors are chosen.

Introduced: Jan 7, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This Senate resolution, S. Res. 17, proposed and agreed to on January 7, 2025, formalizes the minority party’s membership on a wide set of Senate committees for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress (or until successors are chosen). In effect, it fixes for the current Congress which minority-party senators will sit on each committee and designates the ranking member (the senior minority member) on those committees. The resolution does not change chairs or majority-party membership; it simply establishes the minority party lineup for committee work and oversight. The listed memberships cover most standing committees, plus select and joint committees, and include designation of ex officio members on the Select Committee on Intelligence. The arrangement is intended to remain in place for the duration of the 119th Congress unless updated by future action.

Key Points

1The resolution designates the minority party membership for each committee for the 119th Congress, or until successors are chosen.
2For every committee, the ranking member (the senior member of the minority party on that panel) is identified. Examples include Klobuchar as Ranking on Agriculture, Murray on Appropriations, Reed on Armed Services, Warren on Banking, and Wyden on Finance, among others.
3The roster covers a broad set of committees, including Agriculture, Appropriations, Armed Services, Banking, Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources, Environment and Public Works, Finance, Foreign Relations, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Select Committee on Intelligence (with ex officio members noted), the Judiciary, Budget, Rules and Administration, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Veterans’ Affairs, the Special Committee on Aging, the Joint Economic Committee, the Select Committee on Ethics, and the Committee on Indian Affairs.
4The Select Committee on Intelligence listing includes ex officio members (Reed and Schumer) as part of the minority membership.
5The resolution explicitly states the arrangement lasts for the 119th Congress or until successors are chosen, providing continuity in committee membership.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Members of the minority party and Senate committees. This directly shapes which minority members staff and oversee each committee’s work, including hearings, markups, and legislative consideration.Secondary group/area affected: The majority party and committee staff, who coordinate with minority members on scheduling and jurisdiction, and who rely on the minority roster to conduct bipartisan oversight and legislation.Additional impacts: The resolution can influence legislative strategy and oversight dynamics across a broad policy spectrum, since committee assignments determine minority-party visibility, questions during hearings, and opportunities to introduce amendments or pursue minority-party priorities. It also provides a fixed framework for committee operations for the duration of the 119th Congress unless updated.

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