Senate and House Committees Finalize Members
Washington Update
Senate HELP Committee
On Tuesday, January 7, Senator Bill Cassidy (LA) was officially seated as the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee with Senator Bernie Sanders taking the role of Ranking Member of the Committee. Cassidy also announced the other Republican members joining him on the committee: U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Jim Banks (R-IN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Joining the minority side of the Committee are Senators Andy Kim (NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), and Angela Alsobrooks (MD). Senators Patty Murray (WA), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Chris Murphy (CT), Tim Kaine (VA), Maggie Hassan (NH), John Hickenlooper (CO), and Ed Markey (MA) are all returning to the Committee.
House Education and Workforce Committee
On Friday, January 10, House Education and Workforce Chair Tim Walberg (MI) released the GOP’s slate of committee members and announced its first meeting on Wednesday, January 15, at 10:15 a.m. There are five new members on the committee — Congressmen Bob Onder (MO), Ryan Mackenzie (PA), Michael Baumgartner (WA), Mark Harris (NC), and Mark Messmer (IN). Democrats are still working to finalize their half of the committee and both still need to name leaders for various subcommittees. On Wednesday, January 8, Chairman Walberg announced Committee senior staff.
Click here to read a press release from Chairman Walberg welcoming Committee members.
Click here to read the press release on the Committee’s senior staff.
Click here to access the live webcast of the first Committee meeting.
Department of Labor Secretary Nominee
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, former Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, is returning to Washington for a series of meetings with senators as Congress prepares to confirm several of Trump’s top agency heads. According to a transition spokesperson, Chavez-DeRemer has more than a dozen meetings scheduled, including with members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Senate leadership from both parties. The tight schedule comes after last week’s D.C. snowstorm disrupted previously planned engagements.
Department of Education Secretary Nominee
Linda McMahon appears to have a relatively smooth path to becoming Education Secretary, though her support from Senate Democrats remains uncertain. Concerns persist about President-elect Donald Trump’s proposals to cut the Department of Education’s budget and potentially dismantle the agency. McMahon, confirmed in 2017 as head of the Small Business Administration (SBA) with an 81-19 bipartisan vote, faces a tougher confirmation process for this role. Some Democrats, including Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT), voiced skepticism about her alignment with Trump’s agenda, particularly regarding federal support for public education. After meeting with McMahon, Blumenthal reiterated his opposition to abolishing the Department of Education, and cited her apparent support for Trump’s plans as a significant concern.
McMahon’s background includes a brief tenure on the Connecticut Board of Education and two unsuccessful Senate campaigns against Blumenthal and Senator Chris Murphy (CT). Both senators supported her SBA confirmation but have raised reservations about her nomination for Education Secretary. Senator Tim Kaine (VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, highlighted McMahon’s advocacy for career and technical education as a positive, aligning with his priorities, such as expanding Pell Grants for workforce programs, however, he noted that he needs more information to fully assess her qualifications.
The Senate HELP Committee is currently waiting for McMahon’s financial disclosures and conflict of interest forms to proceed with her confirmation hearing, likely delaying the process until after Inauguration Day. Committee Chair Senator Bill Cassidy (LA) attributed the delay to the transition team. Confirmation hearings for Trump’s other nominees, including national security and energy-related picks, are scheduled for this week. In comparison, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona’s hearing during the Biden administration occurred 14 days after Inauguration Day, while former Secretary Betsy DeVos’ hearing was held three days before Trump’s 2017 inauguration.
Although Cassidy has not met with McMahon, he noted having a brief phone conversation with her. McMahon began meeting with Senate leaders and committee members late last year. Her stance on education policy, particularly her emphasis on career and technical training, is expected to play a key role in her confirmation prospects.
Unemployment Rate
On Friday, January 10, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the December jobs report, which showed much stronger growth last month than expected. Nonfarm payrolls grew by 256,000, up from 212,000 in November and above the predicted 155,000. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%, one-tenth of a point below expectations. Hiring was strongest in the health care, government and social assistance industries.
Click here to access the report.
Click here to read Acting Secretary Julie Su’s statement on the jobs report.
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