United States House Committee on Ways and Means

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Committee on Ways and Means
119th United States Congress
Seal of the United States House of Representatives.svg
Ways and Means (118th Congress).svg
Republican Majority Logo (119th Congress)
History
FoundedDecember 21, 1795 (1795-12-21)
New session started
January 3, 2025 (2025-01-03)
Leadership
Chair
Jason Smith (R)
since January 10, 2023
Ranking Member
Richard Neal (D)
since January 10, 2023
Structure
Seats43 members
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (25)

Minority

Joint committees
Senate equivalent: Senate Finance Committee
Website
waysandmeans.house.gov (Republican)
democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov (Democratic)

The Committee on Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The committee has jurisdiction over all taxation, tariffs, and other revenue-raising measures, as well as a number of other programs including Social Security, unemployment benefits, Medicare, the enforcement of child support laws, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, foster care, and adoption programs. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committee unless they are granted a waiver from their party's congressional leadership. It has long been regarded as the most prestigious committee of the House of Representatives. [1]

Contents

The United States Constitution requires that all bills regarding taxation must originate in the U.S. House of Representatives, and House rules dictate that all bills regarding taxation must pass through Ways and Means. This system imparts upon the committee and its members a significant degree of influence over other representatives, committees, and public policy. Its Senate counterpart is the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.

In the 119th Congress, the committee's chair is Jason T. Smith. [2] Recent chairs have included Bill Thomas, Charlie Rangel, Sander Levin, Dave Camp, Paul Ryan, Kevin Brady, and Richard Neal.

History

Inside a Ways and Means meeting in November 2019. Ways and Means 2020.jpg
Inside a Ways and Means meeting in November 2019.

The Ways and Means Committee was first established during the first Congress, in 1789. However, this initial version was disbanded after only 8 weeks; for the next several years, only ad hoc committees were formed, to write up laws on notions already debated in the whole House. It was first established as a standing committee by resolution adopted December 21, 1795, [3] and first appeared among the list of regular standing committees on January 7, 1802. [4] Upon its original creation, it held power over both taxes and spending, until the spending power was given to the new Appropriations Committee in 1865. [5]

During the Civil War the key policy-maker in Congress was Thaddeus Stevens, as chair of the committee and Republican floor leader. He took charge of major legislation that funded the war effort and permanently transformed the nation's economic policies regarding tariffs, bonds, income and excise taxes, national banks, suppression of money issued by state banks, greenback currency, and western railroad land grants. [6] Stevens was one of the major policymakers regarding Reconstruction, and obtained a House vote of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson (who was acquitted by the Senate in 1868). Hans L. Trefousse, his leading biographer, concludes that Stevens "was one of the most influential representatives ever to serve in Congress. [He dominated] the House with his wit, knowledge of parliamentary law, and sheer willpower, even though he was often unable to prevail." [7] Historiographical views of Stevens have dramatically shifted over the years, from the early 20th-century view of Stevens and the Radical Republicans as tools of enormous business and motivated by hatred of the white South, to the perspective of the neoabolitionists of the 1950s and afterwards, who applauded their efforts to give equal rights to the freed slaves.[ citation needed ]

Three future presidents – James Polk, Millard Fillmore, and William McKinley – served as committee chair. Before the official roles of floor leader came about in the late 19th century, the chair of Ways and Means was considered the Majority Leader. The chair is one of very few Representatives to have office space within the Capitol building itself. [8]

Political significance

Because of its wide jurisdiction, Ways and Means has always been one of the most important committees with respect to impact on policy. Although it lacks the prospects for reelection help that comes with the Appropriations Committee, it is seen as a valuable post for two reasons: given the wide array of interests that are affected by the committee, a seat makes it easy to collect campaign contributions [9] and since its range is broad, members with a wide array of policy concerns often seek positions to be able to influence policy decisions. Some recent major issues that have gone through the Ways and Means Committee include welfare reform, a Medicare prescription drug benefit, Social Security reform, George W. Bush's tax cuts, and trade agreements including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

From 1911 to 1974, the Ways and Means Committee also had the responsibility to appoint members of other committees in addition to its legislative duties. [10] When Ways and Means chair Wilbur Mills' career ended in scandal, Congressman Phillip Burton transferred the committee's selection powers to a separate, newly created committee. [10]

Members, 119th Congress

MajorityMinority

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 13 (chair), H.Res. 14 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 21 (R), H.Res. 22 (D)

Subcommittees

There are six subcommittees in the 118th Congress. In 2011, the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support was renamed the Subcommittee on Human Resources, returning to the name it held prior to the 110th United States Congress. [12] In 2015, the Select Revenue Measures was renamed the Subcommittee on Tax Policy. [13] In 2019 these two subcommittees were again renamed under Democratic control; Human Resources became Worker and Family Support and Tax Policy was renamed to Select Revenue Measures. In 2023 and under a return to Republican control, they were again renamed to Work and Welfare and Tax respectively.

SubcommitteeChair [14] Ranking Member [11]
Health Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Lloyd Doggett (D–TX)
Oversight David Schweikert (R-AZ) Terri Sewell (D-AL)
Social Security Ron Estes (R-KS) John B. Larson (D-CT)
Tax Mike Kelly (R-PA) Mike Thompson (D-CA)
Trade Adrian Smith (R-NE) Linda Sánchez (D-CA)
Work and Welfare Darin LaHood (R-IL) Danny Davis (D–IL)

List of chairs

NamePartyStateStartEnd
Thomas Fitzsimons FederalistPA17891789
William Smith FederalistSC17941797
Robert Harper FederalistSC17971800
Roger Griswold FederalistCT18001801
John Randolph Democratic-RepublicanVA18011805
Joseph Clay Democratic-RepublicanPA18051807
George Campbell Democratic-RepublicanTN18071809
John Eppes Democratic-RepublicanVA18091811
Ezekiel Bacon Democratic-RepublicanMA18111812
Langdon Cheves Democratic-RepublicanSC18121813
John Eppes Democratic-RepublicanVA18131815
William Lowndes Democratic-RepublicanSC18151818
Samuel Smith Democratic-RepublicanMD18181822
Louis McLane FederalistDE18221827
John Randolph DemocraticVA18271827
George McDuffie DemocraticSC18271832
Gulian Verplanck DemocraticNY18321833
James Polk DemocraticTN18331835
Churchill Cambreleng DemocraticNY18351839
John Jones DemocraticVA18391841
Millard Fillmore WhigNY18411843
James McKay DemocraticNC18431847
Samuel Vinton WhigOH18471849
Thomas Bayly DemocraticVA18491851
George Houston DemocraticAL18511855
Lewis Campbell RepublicanOH18561857
Glancy Jones DemocraticPA18571858
John Phelps DemocraticMO18581859
John Sherman RepublicanOH18601861
Thaddeus Stevens RepublicanPA18611865
Justin Morrill RepublicanVT18651867
Robert Schenck RepublicanOH18671871
Samuel Hooper RepublicanMA18711871
Henry Dawes RepublicanMA18711875
William Morrison DemocraticIL18751877
Fernando Wood DemocraticNY18771881
John Tucker DemocraticVA18811881
William Kelley RepublicanPA18811883
William Morrison DemocraticIL18831887
Roger Mills DemocraticTX18871889
William McKinley RepublicanOH18891891
William Springer DemocraticIL18911893
William Wilson DemocraticWV18931895
Nelson Dingley RepublicanME18951899
Sereno Payne RepublicanNY18991911
Oscar Underwood DemocraticAL19111915
Claude Kitchin DemocraticNC19151919
Joseph Fordney RepublicanMI19191923
William Green RepublicanIA19231928
Willis Hawley RepublicanOR19281931
James Collier DemocraticMS19311933
Robert Doughton DemocraticNC19331947
Harold Knutson RepublicanMN19471949
Robert Doughton DemocraticNC19491953
Daniel Reed RepublicanNY19531955
Jere Cooper DemocraticTN19551957
Wilbur Mills DemocraticAR19571974
Al Ullman DemocraticOR19741981
Dan Rostenkowski DemocraticIL19811994
Sam Gibbons
Acting
DemocraticFL19941995
Bill Archer RepublicanTX19952001
Bill Thomas RepublicanCA20012007
Charles Rangel DemocraticNY20072010
Pete Stark
Acting
DemocraticCA2010
Sander Levin DemocraticMI20102011
Dave Camp RepublicanMI20112015
Paul Ryan RepublicanWI20152015
Kevin Brady RepublicanTX20152019
Richard Neal DemocraticMA20192023
Jason Smith RepublicanMO2023present

Ranking Members

Former ranking members are below. [15]

NamePartyStateStartEnd
George Pendleton DemocraticOH18631865
James Brooks DemocraticNY18661866
John Hogan DemocraticMO18661867
James Brooks DemocraticNY18671873
James Beck DemocraticKY18731875
James Blaine RepublicanME18751876
William Kelley RepublicanPA18761879
James Garfield RepublicanOH18791880
William Kelley RepublicanPA18801881
Samuel Randall DemocraticPA18811883
William Kelley RepublicanPA18831889
John Carlisle DemocraticKY18891890
Roger Mills DemocraticTX18901891
Thomas Reed RepublicanME18911895
Charles Crisp DemocraticGA18951896
Benton McMillin DemocraticTN18961897
Joseph Bailey DemocraticTX18971899
James Richardson DemocraticTN18991903
John Williams DemocraticMS19031907
Champ Clark DemocraticMO19071911
Sereno Payne RepublicanNY19111914
Joseph Fordney RepublicanMI19141919
Claude Kitchin DemocraticNC19191923
Jack Garner DemocraticTX19231931
Willis Hawley RepublicanOR19311933
Allen Treadway RepublicanMA19331945
Harold Knutson RepublicanMN19451947
Robert Doughton DemocraticNC19471949
Daniel Reed RepublicanNY19491953
Jere Cooper DemocraticTN19531955
Daniel Reed RepublicanNY19551959
Richard Simpson RepublicanPA19591960
Noah Mason RepublicanIL19601963
John Byrnes RepublicanWI19631973
Herman Schneebeli RepublicanPA19731977
Barber Conable RepublicanNY19771985
John Duncan RepublicanTN19851988
Bill Archer RepublicanTX19881995
Sam Gibbons DemocraticFL19951997
Charlie Rangel DemocraticNY19972007
Jim McCrery RepublicanLA20072009
Dave Camp RepublicanMI20092011
Sander Levin DemocraticMI20112017
Richard Neal DemocraticMA20172019
Kevin Brady RepublicanTX20192023
Richard Neal DemocraticMA2023present

Historical membership rosters

MajorityMinority

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 14 (chair), H.Res. 15 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 56 (R), H.Res. 57 (D), H.Res. 999 (Gomez), H.Res. 1431 (Horsford)

Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChair [16] Ranking Member [17]
Health Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Lloyd Doggett (D–TX)
Oversight David Schweikert (R-AZ) Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) (until August 21, 2024)
Linda Sánchez (D-CA) (from September 10, 2024) [18]
Social Security Drew Ferguson (R-GA) John B. Larson (D-CT)
Tax Mike Kelly (R-PA) Mike Thompson (D-CA)
Trade Adrian Smith (R-NE) Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Work and Welfare Darin LaHood (R-IL) Danny K. Davis (D–IL)

117th Congress

MajorityMinority

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 9 (chair), H.Res. 10 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 62 (D), H.Res. 63 (R), H.Res. 875 (R), H.Res. 1159 (R)

Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Health Lloyd Doggett (D–TX) Vern Buchanan (R–FL)
Oversight Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) Tom Rice (R-SC)
Select Revenue Measures Mike Thompson (D-CA) Mike Kelly (R–PA)
Social Security John B. Larson (D-CT) Tom Reed (R-NY)
Trade Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Adrian Smith (R–NE)
Worker and Family Support Danny Davis (D–IL)Vacant

116th Congress

MajorityMinority

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 7 (chair); H.Res. 8 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 42 (D), H.Res. 68 (R)

Subcommittee
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Health Lloyd Doggett (D–TX) Devin Nunes (R–CA)
Worker and Family Support Danny Davis (D–IL) Jackie Walorski (R–IN)
Oversight Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) Mike Kelly (R–PA)
Select Revenue Measures Mike Thompson (D-CA) Adrian Smith (R–NE)
Social Security John B. Larson (D-CT) Tom Reed (R-NY)
Trade Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Vern Buchanan (R–FL)

115th Congress

MajorityMinority

See also

References

  1. "Panic Rooms, Birth Certificates and the Birth of GOP Paranoia". Politico . April 2, 2021.
  2. Weiss, Laura (January 9, 2023). "Rep. Jason Smith wins three-way contest for Ways and Means gavel". Roll Call. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  3. "Ways and Means Bicentennial History, Page 38" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on September 23, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
  4. "Ways and Means Bicentennial History, Page 58" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on September 10, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
  5. Cannon, J. M., Time and Chance: Gerald Ford's Appointment with History (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1994), p. 58.
  6. Heather Cox Richardson (1997). The Greatest Nation of the Earth: Republican Economic Policies During the Civil War. Harvard University Press. pp. 9, 41, 52, 111, 116, 120, 182, 202. ISBN   9780674059658.
  7. Trefousse, H. L. (1991). Historical Dictionary of Reconstruction. Greenwood. p. 214. ISBN   9780313258626.
  8. Schraufnagel, S., Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress (Lanham: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2011), p. 239 Archived February 13, 2021, at the Wayback Machine .
  9. Grier, Kevin; Munger, Michael (1991). "Committee Assignments, Constituent Preferences and Campaign Contributions". Economic Inquiry. 29 (1): 24–43. doi:10.1111/j.1465-7295.1991.tb01250.x.
  10. 1 2 Committee on Ways and Means (1989). A Bicentennial History, 1789-1989 . Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 215, 354, 355. ISBN   0-465-04195-7.
  11. 1 2 "Ranking Member Neal Announces Ways and Means Democrats' Subcommittee Assignments for 119th Congress". Ways & Means Committee. January 8, 2025.
  12. "Chairman Camp Announces Republican Membership on Ways & Means Subcommittees for 113th Congress". January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. "Chairman Brady Announces Republican Subcommittee Chairs, Members". November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  14. Foster, Tim (January 14, 2025). "Smith Announces 118th Congress Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairs". United States House Committee on Ways & Means.
  15. https://democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov/files/documents/Ways%20and%20Means%20book_FINAL.pdf
  16. Foster, Tim (January 27, 2023). "Smith Announces 118th Congress Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairs". House Committee on Ways and Means. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  17. "Ranking Member Neal Announces Ways and Means Democrats' Subcommittee Assignments for the 118th Congress". Ways and Means Committee - Democrats. January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  18. "Neal Celebrates Sánchez Breaking a Glass Ceiling for Ways and Means Democrats | Ways and Means - Democrats". democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov. September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.

Sources

Further reading

Primary sources