After years of being a a consistent and strong supporter of many of President-elect Donald Trump’s policies, Utah Sen. Mike Lee will now have influence over important energy-related policies as chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Lee will also be joined on one of his committee assignments by freshman Sen.-elect John Curtis.
Late last week, incoming Senate Majority leader John Thune, R-S.D., released the list of GOP Senate committee assignments for the 119th Congress.
According to the press release from Thune’s office, “The assignments have been ratified by the Senate Republican Conference and are expected to be ratified by the full Senate early next Congress.”
As the Senate changes from a Democratic to a Republican majority, major changes are being made in leadership and committee assignments.
“Seniority broadly dictates which Republicans are in line for these top posts, although they are technically voted on by the committee membership and then that is ratified by the full Republican conference and on the Senate floor,” according to CNN.
What Senate committees will Utah Sens. Lee and Curtis be on?
Lee, who is in his third term in the Senate, will serve as the chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, according to a post from the senator on X.
This position will “give him power over key issues important to his home state of Utah and a front-row seat to set energy policies that Republicans plan to champion in the next Congress,” according to CNN.
He will also sit on the Senate Judiciary, Foreign Relations and Budget committees.
“It is an honor to serve the people of Utah,” Lee wrote on X in regards to his committee assignments.
Curtis will join Lee on the Foreign Relations Committee, according to the press release from Thune’s office.
Curtis will also sit on the Senate Environment and Public Works, Commerce, and Small Business committees.
“Tackling inflation, unlocking American energy, combatting global instability, and supporting small businesses are priorities Utahns have asked me to address,” Curtis said, according to a press release from his office. “I’m ready to get things done.”
Which Senate committees will Idaho Sens. Risch and Crapo be on?
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo will serve as the chairman of the Finance Committee, per the press release.
Crapo will also sit on the Senate Banking; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Judiciary; and Aging and Budget committees.
Idaho’s other senator, Jim Risch, will be the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, which Lee and Curtis are both on.
According to Thune’s press release, Risch has also been assigned to sit on the Senate Energy, Intel, Small Business, and Ethics committees.
Other notable committee assignments
Two other outspoken and well-known Republican senators, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, have been named as the chairs of powerful committees.
“Cruz, Lee and Paul have often railed against Senate GOP leadership — and committee chairs — over government funding, deficit spending and other hot-button issues,“ according to CNN. ”They’ll have significant influence to impact policy making, nominations and usher through pet projects,” per CNN.
Cruz, R-Texas, has been named chairman of the Commerce Committee.
Being the chair of this committee places Cruz “in a position to help run the confirmations of the secretaries of Transportation and Commerce, as well as approve more than 100 Senate-confirmed positions,” according to CNN.
Cruz will also sit on the Judiciary, Foreign Relations and Rules committees, per Thune’s press release.
Paul, R-Ky., has been named chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
This position will give Paul “broad oversight over national security and includes a powerful investigative subcommittee with subpoena power that is expected to be chaired by conservative Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin,” per CNN.
Sen. Susan Collins, a longtime Trump critic, according to CNN, has been named the chair of Senate Appropriations Committee.
In this position, the senator out of Maine “will have to work closely with the White House on many of its policy goals and the funding that goes with them,” per CNN.