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Committee Assignments

Health, education, labor, and pensions (chairman).

The United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) generally considers matters relating to these issues. Its jurisdiction extends beyond these issues to include several more specific areas, as defined by Senate rules. 

The United States Senate Committee on Budget is responsible for drafting Congress's annual budget plan and monitoring action on the budget for the Federal Government. The committee has jurisdiction over the Congressional Budget Office.

Energy & Natural Resources

The United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has jurisdiction over matters related to energy and nuclear waste policy, territorial policy, native Hawaiian matters, and public lands.

Environment & Public Works

The United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is responsible for dealing with matters related to the natural environment and infrastructure.

Veterans Affairs

The United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs considers matters relating to the compensation of veterans, life insurance issued on account of service in the Armed Forces, national cemeteries, pensions of all wars, readjustment of servicemen to civil life, and veterans' hospitals and medical care.

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U.S. Senate 332 Dirksen Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-5141 Fax: 202-228-0776

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committee assignments

Senator casey's committee work.

Committee work is essential to the Senate.  It is where members advocate for the interests of their states, draw attention to important issues, and hold injurious entities accountable.  Senator Casey uses his position on committees to move legislation and advance the priorities of the Commonwealth.

Senator Casey serves on four committees in the 118th Congress (2023-2024).

Committee on Finance

The Committee concerns itself with matters relating to taxation and other revenue measures; bonded debt of the United States; customs, collection districts, and ports of entry and delivery; reciprocal trade agreements; tariff and import quotas; the transportation of dutiable goods; deposit of public moneys; general revenue sharing; health programs under the Social Security Act, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and other health and human services programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund; and national social security. 

Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Chairman - Subcommittee on Children and Families

The Committee began in 1869 as the Committee on Education.  From 1884 through the mid-1900s, it was known as the Education and Labor Committee.  In 1999, the Committee was officially renamed the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

Select Committee on Intelligence

The Committee was created by the Senate in 1976 to “oversee and make continuing studies of the intelligence activities and programs of the United States Government,” to “submit to the Senate appropriate proposals for legislation and report to the Senate concerning such intelligence activities and programs,” and to “provide vigilant legislative oversight over the intelligence activities of the United States to assure that such activities are in conformity with the Constitution and laws of the United States.” 

Special Committee on Aging

Chairman - Full Committee

The Special Committee on Aging was first established in 1961 as a temporary body.  It was granted permanent status on February 1, 1977.  While special committees have no legislative authority, they can study issues, conduct oversight of programs, and investigate reports of fraud and waste.

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Senator Markey Statement on Joining HELP Committee in 118th Congress

Washington (January 26, 2023) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement announcing his new assignment on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee. Senator Markey also serves on the Commerce Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Small Business Committee. “The promise of our democracy rests on our collective efforts to uplift the American people through access, equity, innovation, opportunity, security, and justice, which are at the heart of the HELP Committee’s jurisdiction. These same principles have always animated my commitment to creating progressive change for the people of Massachusetts and the country. We must fight on the side of American families who need leaders that believe in quality education, universal health care, the dignity of work and workers’ rights, climate action, and economic security for our seniors. I am proud to represent Massachusetts, a global leader in the life sciences, home to the greatest hospitals and educational institutions in the world, and a leader in the fight for union organizing. I am committed to bringing to the Committee the unique perspectives and assets of this unrivaled innovation economy and proven record championing systems change. I look forward to working with Chairman Sanders and all of my colleagues to secure a healthy, clean, just, and livable future for all.”

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About the Committee System | Committee Assignments

The committee assignment process in the Senate is guided by Senate rules as well as party rules and practices.

Senators are formally elected to standing committees by the entire membership of the Senate, but in practice each party conference is largely responsible for determining which of its members will sit on each committee. Party conferences appoint a "committee on committees" or a “steering committee” to make committee assignments, considering such qualifications as seniority, areas of expertise, and relevance of committee jurisdiction to a senator’s state. In both conferences, the floor leader has authority to make some committee assignments, which can provide the leader with a method of promoting party discipline through the granting or withholding of desired assignments. The number of seats a party holds in the Senate determines its share of seats on each committee.

Senate rules divide committees into three categories based on their importance: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Each senator may serve on no more than two Class A committees and one Class B committee, unless granted special permission. There are no limits to service on Class C committees.

Since the 1950s, Senate and party rules have gradually changed to distribute coveted committee seats more broadly throughout each party conference. Seniority still matters, however, and the majority party member with the greatest seniority on a particular committee traditionally serves as chair. Practices also vary between the two parties. In 1995 the Republican conference changed its rules to allow senators on individual committees to vote by secret ballot for their committee's chair, irrespective of seniority. Republicans have also established a six-year term limit on the service of chairs or, when in the minority, its ranking members. Both party conferences provide that when a state is represented by two senators of the same party, the two may not serve together on the same committee, though that rule can be waived by the members of the party.

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Senator Murray Announces HELP Subcommittee Assignments

(Washington, D.C.) –  Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on the announcement of the subcommittee assignments.

“The HELP Committee has the important responsibility to tackle the issues that families across this country face in their everyday lives. From health care, to education, to supporting workers and retirees—this committee addresses a wide range of issues to ensure everyone can live with dignity and respect. I look forward to working closely with each of our subcommittees in the 117 th Congress.”

The subcommittee assignments are below—Chair Murray and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) will serve as ex officio members on each of the subcommittees:

Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chair

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Ranking Member

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT)

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)

Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH)

Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS)

Senator Tim Scott (R-SC)

Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS)

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA)

Senator Mike Braun (R-IN)

Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety

Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chair

Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), Ranking Member

Senator Tina Smith (D-MN)

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)

Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT)

Subcommittee on Children and Families

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chair

Senator Bill Cassidy (R - LA), Ranking Member

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) 

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)

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