United States Senate Democratic Policy Committee

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The United States Senate Democratic Policy Committee is responsible for the creation of new United States Democratic Party policy proposals, supporting Democratic senators with legislative research, developing reports on legislation and policy, conducting oversight hearings, monitoring roll call votes, differentiating between Democratic and Republican positions, and building party unity.

Contents

The committee was established in 1947, by an act signed by President Harry S. Truman, alongside its Republican counterpart. From 1947 to 2000, the Democratic leader was also the policy committee chairman. From 1989 to 1999, there was a co-chairman. Starting in 1999, the co-chairman was dropped and the position of policy committee chairman became a separate position elected by the Senate Democratic Caucus. The floor leader served as committee chair until 1989, when one of the co-chairs remained leader (Mitchell through 1995 and then Daschle until 1999). The committee chairman is a member of the Democratic party leadership of the United States Senate.

List of chairs

Chair of the Policy Committee
CongressChair(s)Term
80th Alben W. Barkley (KY)1947–1949
81st Scott W. Lucas (IL)1949–1951
82nd Ernest McFarland (AZ)1951–1953
83rd Lyndon Johnson (TX)1953–1961
84th
85th
86th
87th Mike Mansfield (MT)1961–1977
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th Robert Byrd (WV)1977–1989
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st George J. Mitchell (ME)1989–1995
102nd
103rd
104th Tom Daschle (SD)1995-1999
105th
106th Byron Dorgan (ND)1999-2011
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th Chuck Schumer (NY)2011-2017
113th
114th
115th Debbie Stabenow (MI)2017-2019
Chair of the Policy & Communications Committee
CongressChair(s)Term
116th Debbie Stabenow (MI)2019-2025
117th
118th
Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee
CongressChair(s)Term
119th Amy Klobuchar (MN)2025–present

Vice chairs

Co-Chair of Policy
CongressCo-Chair(s)Term
101st Tom Daschle (SD)1989-1995
102nd
103rd
104th Harry Reid (NV)1995-1999
105th
Vice Chair of Policy Committee
CongressVice Chair(s)Term
112th Debbie Stabenow (MI)2011–2017
113rd
114th
115th Joe Manchin (WV)2017-2019
Vice Chair of Policy & Communications Committee
CongressVice Chair(s)Term
116th Joe Manchin (WV)
Cory Booker (NJ)
2019–2025
117th
118th
Vice Chair of Steering & Policy Committee
CongressVice Chair(s)Term
119th Jeanne Shaheen (NH)2025–present

Historical Committee Rosters

113th Congress members

Members
SenatorState
Chuck Schumer, ChairmanNew York
Jack Reed, Regional ChairRhode Island
Mary Landrieu, Regional ChairLouisiana
Patty Murray, Regional ChairWashington
Harry Reid Nevada
Dianne Feinstein California
Ron Wyden Oregon
Tim Johnson South Dakota
Bill Nelson Florida
Tom Carper Delaware
Barbara Mikulski Maryland
Sherrod Brown Ohio
ex officio
Dick Durbin, Democratic WhipIllinois
Patty Murray, Assistant Democratic LeaderWashington

Notes

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