[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 15, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S842-S843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MAKING MINORITY PARTY ASSIGNMENTS

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I send S. Res. 20, the Democratic 
committee assignment resolution, to the desk and ask for its 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 20) making minority party 
     appointments to certain Senate committees for the 108th 
     Congress.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, the resolution just sent to the desk is 
one that provides for the organization of the U.S. Senate in the 108th 
Congress.
  In the last Congress, we saw unprecedented challenges in the Senate. 
A switch in power September 11, anthrax, and the loss of our friend and 
colleague, Paul Wellstone.
  I believe, in working through those challenges--and, in many cases, 
our own grief--we lived up to James Madison's expectation that the 
Senate would be the great ``anchor'' of the Government.
  Now, in the Congress, we face new and growing challenges:
  We need to do far more to tackle terrorism abroad, and make our 
country more secure at home.
  We also need to recognize that national strength depends on economic 
strength, and work to get the economy growing--with new jobs and better 
incomes.
  We need to deal with a growing deficit that poses a growing danger to 
Social Security and Medicare.
  On these issues, and so many more, we have much to do. And that 
requires getting the Senate organized to do it.
  By passing this resolution, our new colleagues and new chairmen can 
take their places on committees and committees can take action on 
legislation.
  This resolution provides, consistent with Senate precedent, for a 
one-seat margin on Senate committees.
  We have agreed that committee funds will be divided by a ratio of 51 
percent to 49 percent.
  As in the 107th Congress, we have also agreed to provide an 
additional 10 percent to be spent for administrative expenses.
  We are also assuring a smooth transition period by guaranteeing that 
our new ranking members' salary budgets are maintained at the same 
level they received as chairmen in the last Congress.
  Finally, the understanding entered into by myself, the distinguished 
majority leader, and the chairs and ranking members of the Rules and 
Appropriations Committees provides that the division of committee space 
will commensurate with this funding agreement.
  The agreement we have reached today reflects the same arrangement we 
had in 107th Congress when Democrats were a 51-49 majority.
  It is fair to both parties, it is equitable, and I hope that it is 
indicative of a spirit of fairness that will mark the way we work in 
this Congress.
  This organizing resolution is the result of a series of conversations 
I had with Senator Frist.
  We all know that Senator Frist took on a great deal of responsibility 
in a very short time I hope that our ability to work together on this 
agreement will pave the way for future agreements.
  I also thank Senators Lott, Dodd, Stevens and Byrd for their help in 
helping us reach this agreement.
  I am confident that this resolution is the right way to keep the 
Senate working. I ask my colleagues to support it so that we can 
continue with the work of the Senate.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, without any 
intervening action or debate.

[[Page S843]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 20) was agreed to, as follows:

                               S. Res. 20

       Resolved, That notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXV, 
     the following shall constitute the minority party's 
     membership on the following standing committees for the 108th 
     Congress, or until their successors are chosen:
       Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry: Mr. Harkin 
     (Ranking Member), Mr. Leahy, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Daschle, Mr. 
     Baucus, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Miller, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Nelson of 
     Nebraska, and Mr. Dayton.
       Committee on Appropriations: Mr. Byrd (Ranking Member), Mr. 
     Inouye, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Harkin, Ms. Mikulski, 
     Mr. Reid, Mr. Kohl, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Dorgan, Mrs. Feinstein, 
     Mr. Durbin, Mr. Johnson, and Ms. Landrieu.
       Committee on Armed Services: Mr. Levin (Ranking Member), 
     Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Reed, Mr. Akaka, 
     Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Dayton, 
     Mr. Bayh, Mrs. Clinton, and Mr. Pryor.
       Committee Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Mr. Sarbanes 
     (Ranking Member), Mr. Dodd, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
     Schumer, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Miller, Mr. Carper, Ms. Stabenow, and 
     Mr. Corzine.
       Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Mr. 
     Hollings (Ranking Member), Mr. Inouye, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. 
     Kerry, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. 
     Nelson of Florida, Ms. Cantwell, and Mr. Lautenberg.
       Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Mr. Bingaman 
     (Ranking Member), Mr. Akaka, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
     Wyden, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Bayh, Mrs. Feinstein, 
     Mr. Schumer, and Ms. Cantwell.
       Committee on Environment and Public Works: Mr. Jeffords 
     (Ranking Member), Mr. Baucus, Mr. Reid, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
     Lieberman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Carper and Mrs. 
     Clinton.
       Committee on Finance: Mr. Baucus (Ranking Member), Mr. 
     Rockefeller, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Graham, 
     Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Kerry, and Mrs. Lincoln.
       Committee on Foreign Relations: Mr. Biden (Ranking Member), 
     Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Boxer, 
     Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Rockefeller, and Mr. Corzine.
       Committee on Governmental Affairs: Mr. Lieberman (Ranking 
     Member), Mr. Levin, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Carper, Mr. 
     Dayton, Mr. Lautenberg, and Mr. Pryor.
       Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: Mr. 
     Kennedy (Ranking Member), Mr. Dodd, Mr. Harkin, Ms. 
     Milkulski, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Reed, 
     Mr. Edwards, and Mrs. Clinton.
       Committee on the Judiciary: Mr. Leahy (Ranking Member), Mr. 
     Kennedy, Mr. Biden, Mr. Kohl, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Feingold, 
     Mr. Schumer, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Edwards.
       Committee on Rules and Administration: Mr. Dodd (Ranking 
     Member), Mr. Byrd, Mr. Inouye, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Schumer, 
     Mr. Breaux, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Dayton, and Mr. Durbin.
       Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Mr. Kerry 
     (Ranking Member), Mr. Levin, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. 
     Landrieu, Mr. Edwards, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Bayh, and Mr. Pryor.
       Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Mr. Graham (Ranking 
     Member), Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Akaka, Mrs. 
     Murray, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Nelson of Nebraska.
       Special Committee on Aging: Mr. Breaux (Ranking Member), 
     Mr. Reid, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Wyden, 
     Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Carper, and Ms. Stabenow.
       Committee on the Budget: Mr. Conrad (Ranking Member), Mr. 
     Hollings, Mr. Sarbanes, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Feingold, 
     Mr. Johnson, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Ms. Stabenow, 
     and Mr. Corzine.
       Select Committee on Ethics: Mr. Reid (Vice Chairman), Mr. 
     Akaka, and Mrs. Lincoln.
       Committee on Indian Affairs: Mr. Inouye (Vice Chairman), 
     Mr. Conrad, Mr. Reid, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Johnson, and 
     Ms. Cantwell.
       Select Committee on Intelligence: Mr. Rockefeller (Vice 
     Chairman), Mr. Levin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Durbin, 
     Mr. Bayh, Mr. Edwards and Ms Mikulski.
       Joint Economic Committee: Mr. Reed (Vice Chairman), Mr. 
     Kennedy, Mr. Sarbanes, and Mr. Bingaman.
       Sec.__. The salary allocation for each Senate committee and 
     subgroup shall reflect the level set forth in the Senate 
     Joint Leadership letter which shall be printed in the 
     Congressional Record following the adoption of this 
     resolution.

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