Boozman in line to lead 3 Senate subpanels

In this file photo, U.S. Sen. John Boozman, left, introduces Frank Broyles, former University of Arkansas football coach and athletics director, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013, during the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting at the Bulldog Activities and Recreation Center on the Fayetteville High School campus.
In this file photo, U.S. Sen. John Boozman, left, introduces Frank Broyles, former University of Arkansas football coach and athletics director, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013, during the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting at the Bulldog Activities and Recreation Center on the Fayetteville High School campus.

WASHINGTON -- Arkansas' soon-to-be senior senator, John Boozman, is expecting to lead three subcommittees when the new Congress convenes after the first of the year, he said Tuesday.

photo

AP

Sen-elect Tom Cotton, R-Ark. makes his way through reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014.

Senate committee assignments were announced by Republican leaders this week. The full Senate must vote before the assignments are official, and that will take place after 114th Congress convenes Jan. 6.

Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, will remain on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee; the Appropriations Committee; the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee, officials said. He also was picked for the Senate Rules Committee.

Sen.-elect Tom Cotton was selected for the Armed Services Committee, the Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee and three committees focused on aging, the economy and the intelligence community.

Boozman said his seniority makes him eligible for a subcommittee chairmanship in the Agriculture, Appropriations, and Environment and Public Works committees.

"I'm in line to have one on each of those three committees," Boozman said. "I'm not sure what it will be right now; I've got some speculation, but they really haven't decided officially."

Members of the majority party on each committee -- which will now be Republicans -- choose their committee chairmen. The chairman then selects the leader for each subcommittee.

Boozman wouldn't speculate about which subcommittees he might lead.

"Right now, to be honest, it's just not set in stone so I'd rather not say something and it not come about," he said. "We really won't know until we actually organize and then go forward with everybody saying their preference."

The Agriculture Committee has authority over farm policy and the farm bill. Boozman is currently the Republican with the most seniority in the committee's subcommittee on conservation, forestry and natural resources.

The Environment and Public Works Committee oversees the environment as well as highways, dams and sewers. Boozman is the Republican with the most seniority on the committee's Water and Wildlife Subcommittee.

The Appropriations Committee oversees federal spending.

Veterans Affairs oversees federal veterans programs. It has no subcommittees.

Boozman also was appointed to the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which oversees Senate operations, the Library of Congress and office space assignments as well as elements of election law, such as campaign finance, contested elections and presidential succession.

"Its function is kind of like the mayor of Capitol Hill," Boozman said. "It's kind of interesting from that standpoint."

Because Arkansas will be represented by two senators from the same party, the two are not allowed to serve on the same committees. The Senate has 20 committees, 68 subcommittees and four joint committees.

Boozman said he and Cotton received a good blend of committee assignments.

"My committees mix very, very well with Sen. Cotton's, and we should be able cover all aspects in representing the people of Arkansas to our very best," he said.

Cotton, a Republican from Dardanelle, was named to the Armed Services Committee, which has authority over Defense Department programs and is considered one of the most influential Senate committees. He also was named to the Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee, which oversees financial institutions, foreign trade and housing.

In the House, Cotton served on the Financial Services and Foreign Affairs committees and has said he wanted similar Senate assignments.

His spokesman, Caroline Rabbitt, said Tuesday that "Tom is pleased with the mix of national security and domestic policy issues covered by his new committees and he's eager to continue to serve the people of Arkansas in the Senate."

Cotton also was named to the Joint Economic Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Special Committee on Aging.

In the Joint Economic Committee, House and Senate members meet together to study economic problems and budget programs but traditionally cannot refer legislation to either chamber. Select committees are narrowly focused on a single topic. While most do not refer legislation to the Senate floor, the Intelligence Select Committee does.

Incoming House members also recently learned some of their committee assignments.

U.S. Rep.-elect Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Hot Springs, was named to the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, his staff announced Monday. He was named to the Natural Resources and the Budget committees earlier this month.

U.S. Rep.-elect French Hill, a Republican from Little Rock, was picked to join the Financial Services Committee earlier this month.

A section on 12/17/2014

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