FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 05, 2005

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Democratic Caucus Approves Ranking Members

Steering Committee Recommends Committee Assignments

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced today that the House Democratic Caucus approved the 109th Congress’ Ranking Members. Pelosi also announced that the Democratic Steering Committee made its recommendations on committee assignments at a meeting this morning.

“House Democrats are determined to strengthen the middle class that is the heart of our democracy, and our New Partnership for America’s Future reaffirms our to six core values: national security, prosperity, fairness, opportunity, community and accountability,” Pelosi said. “We will build on the historic Democratic unity of the 108th Congress, and we will continue to put forward initiatives that have clarity, credibility and consensus.”

The Democratic Caucus approved the following Ranking Members:

 ·Collin Peterson (D-MN), Committee on Agriculture
 ·Ike Skelton (D-MO), Committee on Armed Services
 ·John Spratt (D-SC), Committee on Budget
 ·George Miller (D-CA), Committee on Education and the Workforce
 ·Barney Frank (D-MA), Committee on Financial Services
 ·Henry Waxman (D-CA), Committee on Government Reform
 ·Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Committee on Homeland Security
 ·Jane Harman (D-CA), Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
 ·Tom Lantos (D-CA), Committee on International Relations
 ·Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Joint Economic Committee
 ·John Conyers (D-MI), Committee on the Judiciary
 ·Nick Rahall (D-WV), Committee on Resources
 ·Bart Gordon (D-TN), Committee on Science
 ·Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Committee on Small Business
 ·James Oberstar (D-MN), Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 ·Lane Evans (D-IL), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

Last month, the Democratic Caucus approved four Ranking Members: John Dingell (D-MI), Committee on Energy and Commerce, David Obey (D-WI), Committee on Appropriations, Charles Rangel (D-NY), Committee on Ways and Means, and Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Committee on Rules.

This morning, the Democratic Steering Committee recommended that the following Members be appointed to the following Committees:

 ·Energy and Committee: Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jay Inslee (D-WA), and Mike Ross (D-AR)
 ·Ways and Means: Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), John Larson (D-CT), and Mike Thompson (D-CA)
 ·Financial Services: Melissa Bean (D-IL), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Al Green (D-TX), Gwen Moore (D-WI), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
 ·Agriculture: Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Charlie Melancon (D-LA)
 ·Armed Services: Dan Boren (D-OK) and Cynthia McKinney (D-GA)
 ·Education and the Workforce: John Barrow (D-GA)
 ·Resources: Jim Costa (D-CA)
 ·Small Business: Dan Lipinski (D-IL)
 ·Transportation and Infrastructure: Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Brian Higgins (D-NY), John Salazar (D-CO), and Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi