Some key committee assignments are being announced. On the all-important Senate Finance Committee that hold Senate jurisdiction over child welfare, welfare, health care, SSBG and taxes Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) will fill two vacancies created by retirements.
In the House the key subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, the Human Resources Subcommittee will have a new Chair. Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will replace Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL) who has left the subcommittee altogether to take over the Oversight Subcommittee. Joining Smith on the Human Resources Subcommittee are Representative Jason Smith (R-MO), Representative Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Representative Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Representative Dave Reichert (R-WA), Representative Tom Reed (R-NY), and Representative Tom Rice (R-SC). Congressman Reed is a veteran of the subcommittee while Congressman Reichert is returning. Reichert has served as chair of the subcommittee in the recent past.