The United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP ) generally considers matters relating to these issues. Its jurisdiction also extends beyond these issues to include several more specific areas, as defined by Senate rules.
History While currently known as the HELP Committee, the committee was originally founded on January 28, 1869, as the Committee on Education . Its name was changed to the Committee on Education and Labor on February 14, 1870, when petitions relating to labor were to its jurisdiction from the Committee on Naval Affairs .
The committee’s jurisdiction at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries focused largely on issues relating to federal employees’ working conditions and federal education aid. Prominent action considered by the committee in the 1910s and 1920s included the creation of a national minimum wage , the establishments of a Department of Labor , a Department of Education , and a Children’s Bureau . During the 1930s, the committee took action on the National Labor Relations Act , the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of 1936 and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
In 1944, the jurisdiction of the Public Health Service was transferred from the Commerce Committee to the Committee on Education and Labor, adding issues relating to public health matters to its jurisdiction. The committee's name was changed during the 80th Congress to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare as part of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (Public Law 79-601). The act further expanded the committee's oversight to include the rehabilitation, health, and education of veterans. Mine safety was also added to the committee’s jurisdiction in 1949.
During the Administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson , the committee took the lead in shaping legislation as part of Johnson's War on Poverty , resulting in the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 . Through the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-510), certain issues pertaining to veterans were transferred to the newly created Committee on Veterans Affairs . In the 95th Congress , the Senate passed S. Res. 4, which renamed the committee to be the Committee on Human Resources . However, the name was again changed in the 96th Congress by S. Res. 30 to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources . On March 18, 1992, the committee’s jurisdiction was updated to include all of the areas listed below. The committee was given its current name, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, on January 19, 1999, by S. Res. 20.[1]
Jurisdictional areas Under the Rule 25[2] of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following subject matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee:[3]
Members, 118th Congress Majority[4] Minority[5] Bernie Sanders , Vermont[6] Chairman Patty Murray , WashingtonBob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutTim Kaine , VirginiaMaggie Hassan , New HampshireTina Smith , MinnesotaBen Ray Luján , New MexicoJohn Hickenlooper , ColoradoEd Markey , MassachusettsBill Cassidy , Louisiana, Ranking Member Rand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineLisa Murkowski , AlaskaMike Braun , IndianaRoger Marshall , KansasMitt Romney , UtahTommy Tuberville , AlabamaMarkwayne Mullin , OklahomaTed Budd , North Carolina
Subcommittees
Historical members
110th Congress Majority Minority Ted Kennedy , Massachusetts, Chair Chris Dodd , Connecticut, Vice Chair Tom Harkin , IowaBarbara Mikulski , MarylandJeff Bingaman , New MexicoPatty Murray , WashingtonJack Reed , Rhode IslandHillary Clinton , New YorkBernie Sanders , Vermont[6] Sherrod Brown , OhioBarack Obama , Illinois, until November 16, 2008Mike Enzi , Wyoming, Ranking Member Judd Gregg , New HampshireLamar Alexander , TennesseeRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaLisa Murkowski , AlaskaOrrin Hatch , UtahPat Roberts , KansasWayne Allard , ColoradoTom Coburn , Oklahoma
111th Congress The Committee was chaired by Democrat Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts until his death on August 25, 2009. Under seniority rules, Acting Chairman Christopher Dodd was next in line, but Dodd chose instead to remain chairman of the Senate Banking Committee .[8] Tom Harkin , next in line by seniority, assumed the chairmanship on September 9, 2009, vacating his post as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee .[9] Republican Mike Enzi of Wyoming continued to serve as Ranking Member .
Majority Minority Ted Kennedy , Massachusetts, Chair until June 9, 2009Tom Harkin , Iowa, Chair from September 9, 2009Chris Dodd , Connecticut, Acting Chair from June 9, 2009 – September 9, 2009Barbara Mikulski , MarylandJeff Bingaman , New MexicoPatty Murray , WashingtonJack Reed , Rhode IslandBernie Sanders , Vermont[6] Bob Casey , PennsylvaniaKay Hagan , North CarolinaJeff Merkley , OregonAl Franken , Minnesota, from June 7, 2009Michael Bennet , ColoradoCarte Goodwin , West Virginia, July 2010 – November 2010Joe Manchin , West Virginia, from November 2010Mike Enzi , Wyoming, Ranking Member Judd Gregg , New HampshireLamar Alexander , TennesseeRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaJohn McCain , ArizonaOrrin Hatch , UtahLisa Murkowski , AlaskaTom Coburn , OklahomaPat Roberts , Kansas
Source: ,
112th Congress Majority Minority Tom Harkin , Iowa, Chairman Barbara Mikulski , MarylandJeff Bingaman , New MexicoPatty Murray , WashingtonBernie Sanders , Vermont[6] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaKay Hagan , North CarolinaJeff Merkley , OregonAl Franken , MinnesotaMichael Bennet , ColoradoSheldon Whitehouse , Rhode IslandRichard Blumenthal , ConnecticutMike Enzi , Wyoming, Ranking Member Lamar Alexander , TennesseeRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaRand Paul , KentuckyOrrin Hatch , UtahJohn McCain , ArizonaPat Roberts , KansasLisa Murkowski , AlaskaMark Kirk , Illinois
Source:
113th Congress Majority Minority Tom Harkin , Iowa, Chair Barbara Mikulski , MarylandPatty Murray , WashingtonBernie Sanders , Vermont[6] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaKay Hagan , North CarolinaAl Franken , MinnesotaMichael Bennet , ColoradoSheldon Whitehouse , Rhode IslandTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutElizabeth Warren , MassachusettsLamar Alexander , Tennessee, Ranking member Mike Enzi , WyomingRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaRand Paul , KentuckyOrrin Hatch , UtahPat Roberts , KansasLisa Murkowski , AlaskaMark Kirk , IllinoisTim Scott , South Carolina
Source: to 297
114th Congress Majority Minority Lamar Alexander , Tennessee, Chair Mike Enzi , WyomingRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaRand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineLisa Murkowski , AlaskaMark Kirk , IllinoisTim Scott , South CarolinaOrrin Hatch , UtahPat Roberts , KansasBill Cassidy , LouisianaPatty Murray , Washington, Ranking MemberBarbara Mikulski , MarylandBernie Sanders , Vermont[6] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaAl Franken , MinnesotaMichael Bennet , ColoradoSheldon Whitehouse , Rhode IslandTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutElizabeth Warren , Massachusetts
Source [10]
Source: to 68
[11]
115th Congress Majority Minority Lamar Alexander , Tennessee, Chair Mike Enzi , WyomingRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaRand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineBill Cassidy , LouisianaTodd Young , IndianaOrrin Hatch , UtahPat Roberts , KansasLisa Murkowski , AlaskaTim Scott , South CarolinaPatty Murray , Washington, Ranking MemberBernie Sanders , Vermont[6] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaMichael Bennet , ColoradoAl Franken , Minnesota (until January 2, 2018)Tammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutElizabeth Warren , MassachusettsTim Kaine , VirginiaMaggie Hassan , New HampshireTina Smith , Minnesota (from January 3, 2018)Doug Jones , Alabama (from January 3, 2018)
116th Congress Majority Minority Lamar Alexander , Tennessee, Chairman Mike Enzi , WyomingRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , Georgia (until December 31, 2019) Rand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineBill Cassidy , LouisianaPat Roberts , KansasLisa Murkowski , AlaskaTim Scott , South CarolinaMitt Romney , UtahMike Braun , IndianaKelly Loeffler , Georgia (from January 6, 2020) Patty Murray , Washington, Ranking Member Bernie Sanders , Vermont[6] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutElizabeth Warren , MassachusettsTim Kaine , VirginiaMaggie Hassan , New HampshireTina Smith , MinnesotaDoug Jones , AlabamaJacky Rosen , Nevada
117th Congress Majority Minority Patty Murray , Washington, Chairwoman Bernie Sanders , Vermont[6] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutTim Kaine , VirginiaMaggie Hassan , New HampshireTina Smith , MinnesotaJacky Rosen , NevadaBen Ray Luján , New MexicoJohn Hickenlooper , ColoradoRichard Burr , North Carolina, Ranking Member Rand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineBill Cassidy , LouisianaLisa Murkowski , AlaskaTim Scott , South CarolinaMitt Romney , UtahMike Braun , IndianaRoger Marshall , KansasTommy Tuberville , AlabamaJerry Moran , Kansas
Defunct subcommittees The committee has had other subcommittees in the past, such as:
the Subcommittee on Migratory Labor during the 1950s through 1970s. the Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research during the 1970s. the Subcommittee Investigating Violations of Free Speech and the Rights of Labor , informally known as the "La Follette Civil Liberties Committee"
Chairpersons
Education 1869–1870
Education and Labor, 1870 – 1947
Labor and Public Welfare, 1947–1977
Human Resources, 1977–1979
Labor and Human Resources, 1979–1999
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, 1999–present
See also
References
External links