As the 119th Congress kicks off, it’s time to meet the new leaders steering the legislative ship. Let’s hope they’ve brushed up on the Rules of the Road for using sound signals in fog and poor visibility.
One might think that with a unified government—where one party controls the executive and legislative levers—swift passage of legislation would be a sure thing. However, I’m not ready to take that bet. More on my views below, but first, let’s refresh the names at the controls in Congress.
House of Representatives
Republican Leadership:
Speaker of the House—Mike Johnson (R-LA)
Majority Leader—Steve Scalise (R-LA)
Majority Whip—Tom Emmer (R-MN)
Democratic Leadership:
Minority Leader—Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
Minority Whip—Katherine Clark (D-MA)
Key Committee Chairs and Ranking Members:
Appropriations Committee:
Chair—Tom Cole (R-OK)
Ranking Member—Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Defense Subcommittee:
Chair—Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Ranking Member—Betty McCullom (D-MN)
Intelligence Committee:
Chair—Rick Crawford (R-AR)
Ranking Member—Jim Himes (D-CT)
Foreign Affairs Committee:
Chair—Brian Mast (R-FL)
Ranking Member—Gregory Meeks (D-NY)
Senate
Republican Leadership:
Majority Leader—John Thune (R-SD)
Majority Whip—John Cornyn (R-TX)
Democratic Leadership:
Minority Leader—Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Minority Whip—Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Key Committee Chairs and Ranking Members:
Appropriations Committee:
Chair—Susan Collins (R-ME)
Ranking Member—Patty Murray (D-WA)
Defense Subcommittee:
Chair—Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Ranking Member—unofficially as of 1/28/25, Chris Coons (D-DE)
Republican Leadership:
Majority Leader—John Thune (R-SD)
Majority Whip—John Cornyn (R-TX)
Democratic Leadership:
Minority Leader—Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Minority Whip—Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Key Committee Chairs and Ranking Members:
Appropriations Committee:
Chair—Susan Collins (R-ME)
Ranking Member—Patty Murray (D-WA)
Defense Subcommittee:
Chair—Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Ranking Member—unofficially as of 1/28/25, Chris Coons (D-DE)
Republican Leadership:
Majority Leader—John Thune (R-SD)
Majority Whip—John Cornyn (R-TX)
Democratic Leadership:
Minority Leader—Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Minority Whip—Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Key Committee Chairs and Ranking Members:
Appropriations Committee:
Chair—Susan Collins (R-ME)
Ranking Member—Patty Murray (D-WA)
Defense Subcommittee:
Chair—Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Ranking Member—unofficially as of 1/28/25, Chris Coons (D-DE)
Finance Committee:
Chair—Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Ranking Member—Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Armed Services Committee:
Chair—Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Ranking Member—Jack Reed (D-RI)
Early Challenges Ahead
Budget Battles: With the fiscal year clock ticking, both chambers must navigate the treacherous waters of budget approvals. Reconciliation is first up and challenges Congress to identify over $1 trillion in clawbacks and rescissions of prior legislation to include expired and unauthorized appropriations and mandatory spending. Expect intense partisan debates over defense spending, social programs, and the ever-contentious debt ceiling.
Healthcare Hustles: Renewed debate on healthcare reforms, Medicare and Medicaid spending, and clashes over the Affordable Care Act and prescription drug pricing.
Foreign Affairs Friction: Global hotspots demand attention. As the U.S. searches for its place in what appears to be a new world order, lawmakers must decide whether to adopt a forward or an isolationist posture.
Tech Tangles: If the photo frame of those closest to President Trump as he was sworn in didn’t say enough, recognize that tech leaders and their businesses are front and center in the channel ahead. AI, data privacy, cybersecurity, and Big Tech regulations will be hot topics on the legislative agenda.
As these leaders settle into their roles, they’ll need to balance party priorities with the nation’s needs. It’s a high-stakes game of political chess, and the next six months will set the tone for this Congress’s legacy. Stay tuned—it’s going to be an interesting ride!
