Committee of the United States Senate
Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Warner (R-VA) listen to Admiral Mike Mullen 's confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Committee to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in July 2007; the Armed Services Committee is charged with overseeing the U.S. Senate 's confirmation hearings for senior U.S. military . Armed Services Committee senators Joe Lieberman , Carl Levin (chair), and John McCain listen to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus deliver his opening remarks for the fiscal year 2010 budget request in June 2009. The committee's Don't Ask, Don't Tell hearing on December 2, 2010; U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates greets Ranking member, John McCain . The Committee on Armed Services' hearing on sexual assault in the military on June 4, 2013 The Committee on Armed Services , sometimes abbreviated SASC for Senate Armed Services Committee , is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military , including the Department of Defense , military research and development , nuclear energy (as pertaining to national security ), benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System and other matters related to defense policy. The Armed Services Committee was created as a result of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 following the U.S. victory in World War II . The bill merged the responsibilities of the Committee on Naval Affairs , established in 1816, and the Committee on Military Affairs , also established in 1816.
Considered one of the most powerful Senate committees, its broad mandate allowed it to report some of the most extensive and revolutionary legislation during the Cold War years, including the National Security Act of 1947 . The committee tends to take a more bipartisan approach than other committees, as many of its members formerly served in the military or have major defense interests located in the states they come from.[ 1] The committee's regular legislative product is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which has been passed by Congress and signed into law annually since 1962.[ 2]
The current chair is Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and the Ranking Member is Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi (2023).
According to the Standing Rules of the United States Senate , all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects are referred to the Armed Services Committee:[ 3]
Aeronautical and space activities pertaining to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems or military operations. Common defense. Department of Defense, the Department of the Army , the Department of the Navy , and the Department of the Air Force , generally. Maintenance and operation of the Panama Canal, including administration, sanitation, and government of the Canal Zone. Military research and development. National security aspects of nuclear energy. Naval petroleum reserves, except those in Alaska. Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and privileges of members of the Armed Forces, including overseas education of civilian and military dependents. Selective service system. Strategic and critical materials necessary for the common defense. Members, 118th Congress[ edit ] Majority[ 4] Minority[ 5] Jack Reed , Rhode Island, Chair Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Kirsten Gillibrand , New York Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut Mazie Hirono , Hawaii Tim Kaine , Virginia Angus King , Maine[ 6] Elizabeth Warren , Massachusetts Gary Peters , Michigan Joe Manchin , West Virginia [ 6] Tammy Duckworth , Illinois Jacky Rosen , Nevada Mark Kelly , Arizona Roger Wicker , Mississippi, Ranking Member Deb Fischer , Nebraska Tom Cotton , Arkansas Mike Rounds , South Dakota Joni Ernst , Iowa Dan Sullivan , Alaska Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Rick Scott , Florida Tommy Tuberville , Alabama Markwayne Mullin , Oklahoma Ted Budd , North Carolina Eric Schmitt , Missouri
Committee on Military Affairs, 1816–1947[ edit ] Committee on Naval Affairs, 1816–1947[ edit ] Committee on Armed Services, 1947–present[ edit ] Historical committee rosters [ edit ] Majority Minority Carl Levin , Michigan, Chair Joseph Lieberman , Connecticut[ 6] Jack Reed , Rhode Island Daniel Akaka , Hawaii Bill Nelson , Florida Ben Nelson , Nebraska Evan Bayh , Indiana Jim Webb , Virginia Claire McCaskill , Missouri Mark Udall , Colorado Kay Hagan , North Carolina Mark Begich , Alaska Roland Burris , Illinois, until November 2010 Jeff Bingaman , New Mexico Ted Kaufman , Delaware, until November 2010 Carte Goodwin , West Virginia, until November 2010 Joe Manchin , West Virginia, from November 2010 Chris Coons , Delaware, from November 2010 John McCain , Arizona, Ranking Member James Inhofe , Oklahoma Jeff Sessions , Alabama Saxby Chambliss , Georgia Lindsey Graham , South Carolina John Thune , South Dakota Roger Wicker , Mississippi George LeMieux , Florida Scott Brown , Massachusetts Richard Burr , North Carolina David Vitter , Louisiana Susan Collins , Maine
Source: 2010 Congressional Record , Vol. 156, Page S6226
Subcommittees Majority Minority Carl Levin , Michigan, Chair Joseph Lieberman , Connecticut[ 6] Jack Reed , Rhode Island Daniel Akaka , Hawaii Ben Nelson , Nebraska Jim Webb , Virginia Claire McCaskill , Missouri Mark Udall , Colorado Kay Hagan , North Carolina Mark Begich , Alaska Joe Manchin , West Virginia Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Kirsten Gillibrand , New York Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut John McCain , Arizona, Ranking Member James Inhofe , Oklahoma Jeff Sessions , Alabama Saxby Chambliss , Georgia Roger Wicker , Mississippi Scott Brown , Massachusetts Rob Portman , Ohio Kelly Ayotte , New Hampshire Susan Collins , Maine Lindsey Graham , South Carolina John Cornyn , Texas David Vitter , Louisiana
Source: 2011 Congressional Record , Vol. 157, Page S557
Subcommittees Majority Minority Carl Levin , Michigan, Chair Jack Reed , Rhode Island Bill Nelson , Florida Claire McCaskill , Missouri Mark Udall , Colorado Kay Hagan , North Carolina Joe Manchin , West Virginia Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Kirsten Gillibrand , New York Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut Joe Donnelly , Indiana Mazie Hirono , Hawaii Tim Kaine , Virginia Angus King , Maine[ 6] James Inhofe , Oklahoma, Ranking Member John McCain , Arizona Jeff Sessions , Alabama Saxby Chambliss , Georgia Roger Wicker , Mississippi Kelly Ayotte , New Hampshire Deb Fischer , Nebraska Lindsey Graham , South Carolina David Vitter , Louisiana Roy Blunt , Missouri Mike Lee , Utah Ted Cruz , Texas
Source: 2013 Congressional Record , Vol. 159, Page S296
Subcommittees Majority Minority John McCain , Arizona, Chairman Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma Jeff Sessions , Alabama Roger Wicker , Mississippi Kelly Ayotte , New Hampshire Deb Fischer , Nebraska Tom Cotton , Arkansas Mike Rounds , South Dakota Joni Ernst , Iowa Thom Tillis , North Carolina Dan Sullivan , Alaska Mike Lee , Utah Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Ted Cruz , Texas Jack Reed , Rhode Island, Ranking Member Bill Nelson , Florida Claire McCaskill , Missouri Joe Manchin , West Virginia Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Kirsten Gillibrand , New York Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut Joe Donnelly , Indiana Mazie Hirono , Hawaii Tim Kaine , Virginia Angus King , Maine[ 6] Martin Heinrich , New Mexico
Majority Minority Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma, Chairman (from September 6, 2018) John McCain , Arizona, Chairman (until August 25, 2018) Roger Wicker , Mississippi Deb Fischer , Nebraska Tom Cotton , Arkansas Mike Rounds , South Dakota Joni Ernst , Iowa Thom Tillis , North Carolina Dan Sullivan , Alaska David Perdue , Georgia Ted Cruz , Texas Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Ben Sasse , Nebraska Tim Scott , South Carolina Jon Kyl , Arizona (from September 6, 2018) Jack Reed , Rhode Island, Ranking Member Bill Nelson , Florida Claire McCaskill , Missouri Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Kirsten Gillibrand , New York Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut Joe Donnelly , Indiana Mazie Hirono , Hawaii Tim Kaine , Virginia Angus King , Maine[ 6] Martin Heinrich , New Mexico Elizabeth Warren , Massachusetts Gary Peters , Michigan
Majority Minority Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma, Chairman Roger Wicker , Mississippi Deb Fischer , Nebraska Tom Cotton , Arkansas Mike Rounds , South Dakota Joni Ernst , Iowa Thom Tillis , North Carolina Dan Sullivan , Alaska David Perdue , Georgia Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Martha McSally , Arizona (until December 2, 2020) Rick Scott , Florida Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Josh Hawley , Missouri Jack Reed , Rhode Island, Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Kirsten Gillibrand , New York Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut Mazie Hirono , Hawaii Tim Kaine , Virginia Angus King , Maine[ 6] Martin Heinrich , New Mexico Elizabeth Warren , Massachusetts Gary Peters , Michigan Joe Manchin , West Virginia Tammy Duckworth , Illinois Doug Jones , Alabama
Majority Minority Jack Reed , Rhode Island, Chair Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Kirsten Gillibrand , New York Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut Mazie Hirono , Hawaii Tim Kaine , Virginia Angus King , Maine[ 6] Elizabeth Warren , Massachusetts Gary Peters , Michigan Joe Manchin , West Virginia Tammy Duckworth , Illinois Jacky Rosen , Nevada Mark Kelly , Arizona Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma, Ranking Member Roger Wicker , Mississippi Deb Fischer , Nebraska Tom Cotton , Arkansas Mike Rounds , South Dakota Joni Ernst , Iowa Thom Tillis , North Carolina Dan Sullivan , Alaska Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Rick Scott , Florida Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Josh Hawley , Missouri Tommy Tuberville , Alabama
Source:[ 12]
^ Steinhauer, Jennifer. "With Chairmanship, McCain Seizes Chance to Reshape Pentagon Agenda" , The New York Times (June 9, 2015). Retrieved June 10, 2015. ^ "History of the NDAA" . February 3, 2017. ^ Rule XXV: Committees, Standing Rules of the United States Senate. ^ S.Res. 30 (118th Congress) ^ S.Res. 31 (118th Congress) ^ a b c d e f g h i Independent Senator caucusing with Democrats ^ a b "Senate Armed Services Committee - Subcommittees, 118th Congress" . Senate Armed Services Committee . Retrieved March 17, 2023 . ^ Died August 8, 1913. ^ At the beginning of the 107th Congress in January 2001 the Senate was evenly divided. With a Democratic president and vice president still serving until January 20, the Democratic vice president was available to break a tie, and the Democrats thus controlled the Senate for 17 days, from January 3 to January 20. On January 3 the Senate adopted S. Res. 7 designating Democratic senators as committee chairmen to serve during this period and Republican chairmen to serve effective at noon on January 20, 2001. ^ On June 6, 2001, the Democrats took control of the Senate after Senator James Jeffords (VT) changed from the Republican Party to Independent and announced that he would caucus with the Democrats. ^ Died August 25, 2018. ^ "U.S. Senate: Committee on Armed Services" . Senate.gov . Retrieved January 7, 2017 .
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