2014 Elections and Major Changes in the Senate
As predicted by various political analysts, Republicans have won many key Senate races in the 2014 Mid-Term election. The results for Alaska and Louisiana have not been finalized, but so far Republicans have picked up seven seats away from Democrats, shifting the majority in the Senate to 52 Republicans – 44 Democrats (these figures may change after the two remaining state results are finalized; there are also two independents who caucus with Democrats).
In the House, Republicans have kept their majority while also picking up an additional 10 seats; 14 other elections for the House of Representatives have not yet been finalized. Some key House committees could have increased Republican representation, and the Chairs and Ranking Members for these committees could be altered as a result. For example, the House T-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee’s current Chairman Tom Latham (R-IA) and the next senior member Frank Wolf (R-VA) are both retiring. The current Ranking Member is Congressman Ed Pastor (D-AZ) who is also retiring and Congressman David Price (D-NC) will assume the Ranking post.
Republicans and Democrats have their own rules for choosing committee chairman. The House—particularly the House Republican Conference—considers seniority as only one of several factors when determining committee leadership. Committee chairs control the legislative agenda, schedule, and enjoy subpoena power. Once committee chairs are chosen, the chairs will select the various subcommittee chairs.
At the start of the 114
th Congress in January 2015, the leadership and party representation will change dramatically in the Senate committees that are crucial to affordable housing programs. Below is a chart listing these key Senate committees, including some information on the likely Chairman and Ranking member positions provided by an advocacy consultant under contract with NAHMA:
Senate Appropriations Committee
- Current Chair – Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
- Current Ranking Member – Richard Shelby (R-AL)
It is most likely that Mikulski will switch roles and become Ranking Member. According to our advocacy consultant, Senator Thad Cochran (R-OK) could become the next chair for the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Senate Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee
- Current Chair – Patty Murray (D-WA)
- Current Ranking Member – Susan Collins (R-ME)
According to our advocacy consultant, Murray will either shift to the Ranking Member position or move to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. If she were to move, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) will likely become the Ranking Member for the T-HUD Subcommittee. Collins will assume the Chair position for this committee
Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee
- Current Chair – Mark Pryor (D-AR)
- Current Ranking Member – Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Senator Pryor has lost his re-election bid, and will not be returning for the 114
th Congress. Additionally, subcommittee members Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Tim Johnson (D-ND) will be retiring at the end of this current Congress, and Mark Udall (D-CO) has also lost his campaign. This leaves several Democrat vacancies for this committee, so the Ranking Member position is hard to determine.
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee
- Current Chair – Tim Johnson (D-SD)
- Current Ranking Member – Michael Crapo (R-ID)
Senator Johnson will be retiring at the end of the current Congress. For the Ranking Member position, Jack Reed is a likely candidate. According to our advocacy consultant, Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) is likely to take the reins for this committee.
Senate Budget Committee
- Current Chair – Patty Murray (D-WA)
- Current Ranking Member – Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Patty Murray did not face an election this year, and Senator Sessions ran uncontested. Both could be returning in the 114
th Congress in reversed roles.
Senate Finance Committee
- Current Chair – Ron Wyden (D-OR)
- Current Ranking Member – Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Ron Wyden is expected to take the Ranking Member position and Senator Hatch will likely replace him for the Chair position.
NAHMA will provide a full list of the Senate and House Committee membership when it is made available in January, 2015. In the meantime, we are drafting a NAHMAnalysis which discusses the impact of the recent elections in more detail.
Congress reconvenes on November 12
th. The agenda for the remaining weeks of the current Congress will center on funding of government operations for the remainder of FY 2015 as the current continuing resolution will expire on December 11
th. According to our advocacy consultants, it is unknown how Congress will decide on the final appropriations for the current fiscal year. The possibilities include a continuing resolution for the remainder of the year, an omnibus spending measure, or a combination of those two approaches where certain bills are funded through a continuing resolution and other bills are negotiated as in an omnibus.
