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Beyond party leadership, several important committee assignments are beginning to take shape. Of particular significance are the anticipated changes in leadership on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, which oversee federal discretionary spending and play a critical role in determining agency funding and program priorities.

  • House Appropriations: Rep. Rosa DeLauro Seeks Chairmanship – Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has formally announced her intention to become Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. In a letter to colleagues, DeLauro outlined an agenda focused on increasing federal investments in health care, education, housing, scientific research, and other priorities affecting working families. She also pledged to expand Democratic Community Project Funding, commonly known as earmarks. Her proposals include seeking to claw back billions of dollars from Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Pentagon; challenging what she characterized as illegal federal funding freezes; and incorporating the anti-poverty “10-20-30 Plan” across appropriations bills. DeLauro’s priorities offer an early indication of how Democrats may approach federal spending when they assume control of the House Appropriations Committee. 
  • Senate Appropriations: Sen. Lisa Murkowski Positioned for Top Republican Role – Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has confirmed that, following Sen. Susan Collins’ defeat, she is positioned to assume a more senior leadership role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Murkowski also holds the most senior Republican position on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee following the departure of Chairman Bill Cassidy. Although her seniority could allow her to pursue the top Republican position on HELP, her public statements strongly suggest she intends to assume the Appropriations Committee role as the panel’s ranking Republican. If Murkowski takes the Appropriations position, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is emerging as a leading contender to become the ranking Republican on the HELP Committee. These committee leadership decisions will be consequential. Appropriations will be at the center of negotiations over federal spending, while HELP will oversee major policy areas involving health care, education, labor, workforce development, and retirement security.