Reprinted from The Washington Post by on January 20, 2021.
Democrats will control the Senate majority for the first time in six years, ensuring that they will run the 20 permanent committees, seeking to carry out President Biden’s agenda and handling the confirmation of nominees for the administration and the federal judiciary. The advantage is razor-thin with 50 Democrats, 50 Republicans and Vice President Harris the tie-breaking vote. …
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Senator Patty Murray (Washington) — Murray is expected to take the helm of the chamber’s key health-care committee after another election cycle in which health care was a key issue for voters who were grappling with an ongoing pandemic. She has been a member of the committee for more than two decades and most recently was the ranking Democrat on the panel. Murray, 70, has been a member of Senate Democratic leadership since 2007. …