Historical Data
Women Who Have Chaired Congressional Committees, 1923–Present
Through the opening of the 111th Congress, 23 women have chaired congressional committees, including standing, joint, and select panels. This chronological list includes 16 Representatives and seven Senators. Of them, only Representative Mary T. Norton (D-NJ, 1925–1951) chaired more than one standing committee (she chaired a total of four). Congresswoman Corinne “Lindy” Boggs (D-LA, 1973–1991) chaired two select House committees.
House
| Congress/Year | Member’s Name | House Committee |
|---|---|---|
| 111th (2009–2011) | Zoe Lofgren | Standards of Official Conduct |
| Louise M. Slaughter | Rules | |
| Nydia M. Velázquez | Small Business | |
| 110th (2007–2009) | Stephanie Tubbs Jones | Standards of Official Conduct |
| Juanita Millender-McDonald | House Administration | |
| Louise M. Slaughter | Rules | |
| Nydia M. Velázquez | Small Business | |
| 109th (2005–2007) | N/A | |
| 108th (2003–2005) | N/A | |
| 107th (2001–2003) | N/A | |
| 106th (1999–2001) | N/A | |
| 105th (1997–1999) | N/A | |
| 104th (1995–1997) | Nancy L. Johnson | Standards of Official Conduct |
| Jan L. Meyers | Small Business | |
| 103rd (1993–1995) | N/A | |
| 102nd (1991–1993) | Patricia S. Schroeder | Children, Youth, and Families (Select) |
| 101st (1989–1991) | N/A | |
| 100th (1987–1989) | Corinne Claiborne (Lindy) Boggs | Appropriations |
| 99th (1985–1987) | Corinne Claiborne (Lindy) Boggs | Appropriations |
| 98th (1983–1985) | N/A | |
| 97th (1981–1983) | N/A | |
| 96th (1979–1981) | N/A | |
| 95th (1977–1979) | Yvonne Brathwaite Burke | House Beauty Shop (Select) |
| 94th (1975–1977) | Yvonne Brathwaite Burke | House Beauty Shop (Select) |
| Susan Margaret Collins | Bicentennial Arrangements (Select) | |
| Leonor K. Sullivan | Merchant Marine and Fisheries | |
| 93rd (1973–1975) | Martha Wright Griffiths | House Beauty Shop (Select) |
| Leonor K. Sullivan | Merchant Marine and Fisheries | |
| 92nd (1971–1973) | Martha Wright Griffiths | House Beauty Shop (Select) |
| 91st (1969–1971) | Martha Wright Griffiths | House Beauty Shop (Select) |
| 90th (1967–1969) | Martha Wright Griffiths | House Beauty Shop (Select) |
| 89th (1965–1967) | N/A | |
| 88th (1963–1965) | N/A | |
| 87th (1961–1963) | N/A | |
| 86th (1959–1961) | N/A | |
| 85th (1957–1959) | N/A | |
| 84th (1955–1957) | N/A | |
| 83rd (1953–1955) | Edith Nourse Rogers | Veterans' Affairs |
| 82nd (1951–1953) | N/A | |
| 81st (1949–1951) | Mary T. Norton | House Administration |
Senate
| Congress/Year | Member’s Name | Senate Committee |
|---|---|---|
| 111th (2009–2011) | Barbara Boxer | Ethics (Select) |
| Barbara Boxer | Environment and Public Works | |
| Dianne Feinstein | Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies | |
| Dianne Feinstein | Intelligence (Select) | |
| Dianne Feinstein | Caucus on International Narcotics Control | |
| Mary Landrieu | Small Business and Entrepeneurship | |
| 110th (2007–2009) | Barbara Boxer | Ethics (Select) |
| Barbara Boxer | Environment and Public Works | |
| Dianne Feinstein | Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies | |
| Dianne Feinstein | Rules and Administration | |
| 109th (2005–2007) | Susan Margaret Collins | Governmental Affairs |
| Olympia Jean Snowe | Small Business | |
| Olympia Jean Snowe | Small Business and Entrepeneurship | |
| 108th (2003–2005) | Susan Margaret Collins | Governmental Affairs |
| Olympia Jean Snowe | Small Business | |
| Olympia Jean Snowe | Small Business and Entrepeneurship | |
| 104th (1995–1997) | Nancy Landon Kassebaum | Labor and Human Resources |
| 78th (1943–1945) | Hattie Wyatt Caraway | Enrolled Bills |
| 77th (1941–1943) | Hattie Wyatt Caraway | Enrolled Bills |
| 76th (1939–1941) | Hattie Wyatt Caraway | Enrolled Bills |
| 75th (1937–1939) | Hattie Wyatt Caraway | Enrolled Bills |
| 74th (1935–1937) | Hattie Wyatt Caraway | Enrolled Bills |
| 73rd (1933–1935) | Hattie Wyatt Caraway | Enrolled Bills |