A New Lineup Takes Shape in the Senate

These are the likely leaders of the Senate's major committees when Republicans take control. Chairmanships are traditionally based on seniority.

COMMITTEE: APPROPRIATIONS NEW CHAIRMAN: Ted Stevens, Alaska KEY ISSUES: The Appropriations Committee will have to untangle the fiscal mess left over from this year, when only 2 of 13 required spending bills passed. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Robert C. Byrd, West Virginia COMMITTEE: ARMED SERVICES NEW CHAIRMAN: John W. Warner, Virginia KEY ISSUES: The Armed Services Committee will provide resources and policy for the fight against terror and possible conflict in Iraq and elsewhere. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Carl Levin, Michigan COMMITTEE: BANKING, HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS NEW CHAIRMAN: Richard C. Shelby, Alabama KEY ISSUES: The Banking Committee oversees the Securities and Exchange Commission and new accounting rules adopted in the aftermath of corporate scandals. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Paul S. Sarbanes, Maryland COMMITTEE: BUDGET NEW CHAIRMAN: Don Nickles, Oklahoma KEY ISSUES: The panel will wrestle with balancing the budget at a time of rising deficits and a push for making the tax cuts permanent. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Kent Conrad, North Dakota COMMITTEE: COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION NEW CHAIRMAN: John McCain, Arizona KEY ISSUES: Commerce is the starting point for telecommunications policy and trade legislation as the administration seeks to open more markets. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Ernest F. Hollings, South Carolina COMMITTEE: ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES NEW CHAIRMAN: Pete V. Domenici, New Mexico KEY ISSUES: The committee is critical to reviving the administrations push for a new energy policy, including drilling in the Alaskan wilderness. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico COMMITTEE: ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS NEW CHAIRMAN: James M. Inhofe, Oklahoma KEY ISSUES: The Environment and Public Works committee deals with air pollution rules. Republicans have been resisting tough new standards. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: James M. Jeffords, Vermont (independent) COMMITTEE: FINANCE NEW CHAIRMAN: Charles E. Grassley, Iowa KEY ISSUES: The Finance Committee would originate new tax cuts and some aspects of prescription drug policy. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Max Baucus, Montana COMMITTEE: FOREIGN RELATIONS NEW CHAIRMAN: Richard G. Lugar, Indiana KEY ISSUES: Foreign Relations has oversight of foreign policy at a time when the U.S. approach to Iraq has strained relations with many countries. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Joseph R. Biden Jr., Delaware COMMITTEE: GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS NEW CHAIRMAN: Susan Collins, Maine KEY ISSUES: Governmental Affairs would be crucial in monitoring the creation of the new homeland security department. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Joseph I. Lieberman, Connecticut COMMITTEE: HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR AND PENSIONS NEW CHAIRMAN: Judd Gregg, New Hampshire KEY ISSUES: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions could take up the issue of private school vouchers for special education students. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts COMMITTEE: INTELLIGENCE NEW CHAIRMAN: Pat Roberts, Kansas KEY ISSUES: The Intelligence Committee will play a role if the administration agrees to a further investigation of Sept. 11 by an independent commission. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Bob Graham, Florida COMMITTEE: JUDICIARY NEW CHAIRMAN: Orrin G. Hatch, Utah KEY ISSUES: The Judiciary Committee could prove pivotal in speeding approval of President Bushs judicial nominations. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont COMMITTEE: SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP NEW CHAIRMAN: Christopher S. Bond, Missouri KEY ISSUES: Small Business could serve as a conduit for Republican and White House efforts to provide economic incentives. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: John Kerry, Massachusetts COMMITTEE: VETERANS AFFAIRS NEW CHAIRMAN: Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania KEY ISSUES: Veterans Affairs has to balance providing health care and benefits for retirees while staying within administration spending goals. DEPARTING CHAIRMAN: John D. Rockefeller IV, West Virginia