DemDaily: Our New Senate Leadership
November 17, 2016
While the president-elect and his transition team navigate the challenges of choosing cabinet members, the Senate Democrats are preparing their newly-elected leadership team to champion the battles ahead in the 115th Congress.
Led by new Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the full team includes:
The 115th Congress, Senate Democratic Leadership
|
Position
|
Role
|
Name
|
| Senate Minority Leader & Floor Leader |
Chief Senate spokesperson for the Democratic Party, manages and schedules the legislative and executive business of the Senate
|
Chuck Schumer (NY) |
| Senate Democratic Whip |
Responsible for tracking or "whipping" votes on major legislation. If the floor leader is not present, the whip may become acting floor leader
|
Dick Durbin (IL) |
| Assistant Minority Leader |
A newly created position that split the previously joint Whip and Asst Leader position | Patty Murray (WA) |
| Senate Democratic Conference Secretary | Responsible for managing the policy agenda for the Senate Democratic Conference | Tammy Baldwin (WI) |
| Chair, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee | In charge of coordinating the floor and messaging strategies | Debbie Stabenow (MI) |
| Vice Chair, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee | In charge of coordinating the floor and messaging strategies | Joe Manchin (WV) |
|
Vice Chair, Senate Democratic Conference
|
Party's Caucus in charge of electing floor leaders, making committee assignments, and setting legislative agendas | Mark Warner (VA) |
| Vice Chair, Senate Democratic Conference | Party's Caucus in charge of electing floor leaders, making committee assignments, and setting legislative agendas | Elizabeth Warren (MA) |
| Chair, Steering Committee |
Responsible for fostering relations between Senate Democrats and community leaders and interest groups. Formerly Steering & Outreach, the position has been separated into two
|
Amy Klobuchar (MN) |
| Chair, Outreach | A new position responsible for working on organizing grassroots activism around the country on behalf of progressive principles | Bernie Sanders (VT) |
| Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) | Responsible for overseeing efforts to elect Democrats to the Senate | TBD (election for Chair has not been schedule) |
115th Congress Democratic Ranking Committee Chairs
| Agriculture | Debbie Stabenow (MI) | Indian Affairs | Tom Udall (NM) | |
| Armed Services | Jack Reed (RI) | Judiciary | Dianne Feinstein (CA) | |
| Appropriations | Patrick Leahy (VT) | Rules | Amy Klobuchar (MN) | |
| Banking | Sherrod Brown (OH) | Small Business | Jeanne Shaheen (NH) | |
| Budget | Bernie Sanders (VT) | Veterans Affairs | Jon Tester (MT) | |
| Commerce | Bill Nelson (FL) | Aging | Bob Casey (PA) | |
| Energy | Maria Cantwell (WA) | Ethics | Chris Coons (DE) | |
| Environment & Public Works | Tom Carper (DE) | Intelligence | Mark Warner (VA) | |
| Finance | Ron Wyden (OR) | Joint Economic | Martin Heinrich (NM) | |
| Foreign Relations | Ben Cardin (MD) | Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions | Patty Murray (WA) |
The House will be holding their leadership elections November 30th.
Congress convened for the Lame Duck Session November 14-17th, and will reconvene after Thanksgiving from November 29th until December 17th - when the 114th Congress will adjourn for the final time.
DemList will keep you posted. Please pass this on!
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