June 8, 2001
On the Hill
The Senate is still working to reorganize itself following Senator Jim Jeffords' (I-Vt.) announcement that he was leaving the Republican Party. While the membership of some of the committees is still to be determined pursuant to passage of a new organizing resolution, some details are clear. Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) will chair the Appropriations Committee, with Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) heading the Labor/HHS panel, and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) chairing the VA/HUD subcommittee. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) will take over the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) will chair the Finance Committee.
Diane Watson (D-Calif.), former ambassador to Micronesia and state senator, was elected to California's 32nd District House seat, replacing the late Julian Dixon (D-Calif.) who passed away in December 2000. Rep. Watson served in the California Senate for 20 years where she was a long-time chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Committee. She was sworn in on June 7. Rep. Watson's election brings the House party make-up to 221 Republicans, 210 Democrats, 2 Independents, and 2 vacancies.
