Black Americans in Congress

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Black Members’ Committee Assignments (Standing, Joint, Select) in the U.S. House and Senate, 1870–Present

Explanatory note: This appendix lists alphabetically all the congressional committees on which African-American Members served. Several features will help readers track black membership on committees over time.

In instances where a committee’s name (rather than its primary jurisdictional duties) has changed, a “See also” note is provided which refers researchers to prior or latter committee name iterations. These name iterations are listed in chronological order.
In instances where a committee on which a black Member served was disbanded and its jurisdiction subsumed by another committee, a “Jurisdiction reassigned” note is provided. Researchers are referred only to the committees with expanded jurisdictions on which black Members later served.
In instances where a committee was disbanded and no jurisdictional transfer occurred, only the Congress and date ranges of the committee are provided.
Members’ terms of service on committees reflect the years they served on the committees; the Congress range is provided in a separate column. Please be aware that because this appendix accounts for Members joining or leaving committees because of deaths, resignations, and special elections, in some instances service dates are not coterminous with Congress dates.
Jefferson Franklin Long served a partial term during the 41st Congress (1869–1871) but had no committee assignments.

House Standing Committees

Black-American Congressional Standing Committee Assignments
Member’s Name	Term	Congress
Agriculture [1820–Present] 16th Congress–Present
Richard Harvey Cain	1873–1875	43rd
Robert Smalls	1875–1877 1882–1883	44th 47th
Henry Plummer Cheatham	1891–1893	52nd
George Henry White	1897–1901	55th–56th
Alphonso Michael (Mike) Espy	1987–1993	100th–102nd
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.	1993–2003	103rd–107th
Eva M. Clayton	1993–2003	103rd–107th
Earl Frederick Hilliard	1993–2003	103rd–107th
Cynthia Ann McKinney	1993–1997	103rd–104th
Bennie Thompson	1993–2005	103rd–108th
Frank W. Ballance, Jr.	2003–2005	108th
G. K. Butterfield	2003–2007	108th–109th
David Scott	2003–2009	108th–110th
Armed Services [1947–1995; 1999–Present] 80th through 103rd Congresses; 106th Congress–Present (See also the following standing committee: National Security)
Ronald V. Dellums	1973–1995	93rd–103rd
Melvin Herbert Evans	1979–1981	96th
Gary A. Franks	1991–1993	102nd
Cynthia Ann McKinney	1999–2003 2005–2007	106th–107th 109th
Julius Caesar (J. C.) Watts, Jr.	1999–2003	106th–107th
Kendrick B. Meek	2003–2009	108th–110th
G. K. Butterfield	2005–2007	109th
Elijah E. Cummings	2007–2009	110th
Hank Johnson	2007–	110th–111th
Appropriations [1865–Present] 39th Congress–Present
Louis Stokes	1971–1999	92nd–105th
Yvonne Brathwaite Burke	1975–1979	94th–95th
Julian Carey Dixon	1979–2000	96th–106th
Bennett McVey Stewart	1979–1981	96th
William Herbert Gray III	1981–1991	97th–102nd
Carrie P. Meek	1993–1995 1999–2003	103rd 105th–107th
James E. Clyburn	1999–2007	106th–109th
Jesse Jackson, Jr.	1999–	106th–111th
Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick	1999–	106th–111th
Chaka Fattah	2001–	107th–111th
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.	2003–	108th–111th
Barbara Lee	2007–	110th–111th
Banking and Currency [1865–1975] 39th through 93rd Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Banking, Currency, and Housing; Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs; Banking and Financial Services; Financial Services)
Parren James Mitchell	1971–1975	92nd–93rd
Walter Edward Fauntroy	1973–1975	93rd
Andrew Jackson Young, Jr.	1973–1975	93rd
Banking, Currency, and Housing [1975–1977] 94th Congress (See also the following standing committees: Banking and Currency; Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs; Banking and Financial Services; Financial Services)
Walter Edward Fauntroy	1975–1977	94th
Harold Eugene Ford, Sr.	1975–1977	94th
Parren James Mitchell	1975–1977	94th
Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs [1977–1995] 95th through 103rd Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Banking and Currency; Banking, Currency and Housing; Banking and Financial Services; Financial Services)
Walter Edward Fauntroy	1977–1991	95th–101st
Parren James Mitchell	1977–1987	95th–99th
Floyd Harold Flake	1987–1995	100th–103rd
Kweisi Mfume	1987–1995	100th–103rd
Maxine Waters	1991–1995	102nd–103rd
Cleo Fields	1993–1995	103rd
Bobby L. Rush	1993–1995	103rd
Melvin L. Watt	1993–1995	103rd
Albert R. Wynn	1993–1995	103rd
Banking and Financial Services [1995–2001] 104th through 106th Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Banking and Currency; Banking, Currency, and Housing; Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs; Financial Services)
Cleo Fields	1995–1997	104th
Floyd Harold Flake	1995–1999	104th–105th
Jesse Jackson, Jr.	1995–1999	104th–105th
Cynthia Ann McKinney	1995–1997	104th–105th
Kweisi Mfume	1995–1996	104th
Maxine Waters	1995–2001	104th–106th
Melvin L. Watt	1995–2001	104th–106th
Julius Caesar (J. C.) Watts, Jr.	1995–1997	104th
Albert R. Wynn	1995–1997	104th
Julia May Carson	1997–2001	105th–106th
Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick	1997–1999	105th
Barbara Lee	1998–2001	105th–106th
Gregory W. Meeks	1998–2001	105th–106th
Stephanie Tubbs Jones	1999–2001	106th
Budget [1974–Present] 93rd Congress–Present
Parren James Mitchell	1974–1979	93rd–95th
Louis Stokes	1975–1981	94th–96th
William Herbert Gray III	1979–1981 1983–1989	96th 98th–100th
Alphonso Michael (Mike) Espy	1987–1993	100th–102nd
Lucien Edward Blackwell	1993–1995	103rd
Carrie P. Meek	1995–1997	104th
Eva M. Clayton	1997–2003	105th–107th
Bennie Thompson	1997–2003	105th–107th
Artur Davis	2003–2007	108th–109th
Harold Ford, Jr.	2003–2007	108th–109th
John Lewis	2003–2005	108th
Denise L. Majette	2003–2005	108th
Robert C. Scott	2003–2005 2007–2009	108th 110th
William J. Jefferson	2005–2007	109th
Cynthia Ann McKinney	2005–2007	109th
Gwendolynne S. (Gwen) Moore	2007–	110th–111th
Coinage, Weights, and Measures [1864–1947] 38th through 79th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committees: Banking and Currency; Interstate and Foreign Commerce)
William Levi Dawson	1943–1947	78th–79th
Commerce [1995–2001] 104th through 106th Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Interstate and Foreign Commerce; Energy and Commerce)
Cardiss Collins	1995–1997	104th
Gary A. Franks	1995–1997	104th
Bobby L. Rush	1995–2001	104th–106th
Edolphus Towns	1995–2001	104th–106th
Albert R. Wynn	1997–2001	105th–106th
District of Columbia [1808–1995] 10th through 103rd Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Government Reform and Oversight)
George Henry White	1899–1901	56th
William Levi Dawson	1955–1970	84th–91st
Charles Coles Diggs, Jr.	1963–1980	88th–96th
Ronald V. Dellums	1971–1995	92nd–103rd
Walter Edward Fauntroy	1971–1991	92nd–101st
Charles B. Rangel	1973–1975	93rd
William Herbert Gray III	1979–1991	96th–102nd
George Thomas (Mickey) Leland	1979–1987	96th–99th
Mervyn Malcolm Dymally	1981–1993	97th–102nd
Alan Dupree Wheat	1985–1995	99th–103rd
Eleanor Holmes Norton	1991–1995	102nd–103rd
William J. Jefferson	1993–1995	103rd
John Lewis	1993–1995	103rd
Economic and Educational Opportunities [1995–1997] 104th Congress (See also the following standing committees: Education and Labor; Education; Education and the Workforce)
William Lacy (Bill) Clay, Sr.	1995–1997	104th
Chaka Fattah	1995–1997	104th
Major Robert Odell Owens	1995–1997	104th
Donald M. Payne	1995–1997	104th
Mel Reynolds	1995	104th
Robert C. Scott	1995–1997	104th
Education [1883–1947] 48th through 79th Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Education and Labor; Economic and Educational Opportunities; Education and the Workforce)
Henry Plummer Cheatham	1889–1893	51st–52nd
John Mercer Langston	1890–1891	51st
George Washington Murray	1893–1897	53rd–54th
Education and Labor [1867–1883; 1947–1995; 2007–Present] 40th through 47th Congresses; 80th through 103rd Congresses; 110th Congress–Present (See also the following standing committees: Education; Economic and Educational Opportunities; Education and the Workforce)
Robert Brown Elliott	1871–1875	42nd–43rd
James Thomas Rapier	1873–1875	43rd
Charles Edmund Nash	1875–1877	44th
John Roy Lynch	1882–1883	47th
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.	1947–1967 1969–1971	80th–89th 91st
Augustus Freeman (Gus) Hawkins	1963–1991	88th–101st
William Lacy (Bill) Clay, Sr.	1969–1995	91st–103rd
George Washington Collins	1969–1971	91st
Louis Stokes	1969–1971	91st
Shirley A. Chisholm	1971–1977	92nd–94th
Harold Washington	1981–1985	97th–98th
Charles Arthur Hayes	1983–1993	98th–102nd
Major Robert Odell Owens	1983–1995	98th–103rd
Mervyn Malcolm Dymally	1985–1987	99th
Alton R. Waldon, Jr.	1985–1987	99th
Craig Anthony Washington	1900–1993	101st–102nd
Kweisi Mfume	1989–1991	101st
Donald M. Payne	1989–1995 2007–	101st–103rd 110th–111th
William J. Jefferson	1991–1993	102nd
Robert C. Scott	1993–1995 2007–	103rd 110th–111th
Yvette Diane Clarke	2007–	110th–111th
Danny K. Davis	2007–2009	110th
Marcia L. Fudge	2009–	111th
Education and the Workforce [1997–2007] 105th through 109th Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Education and Labor; Education; Economic and Educational Opportunities)
William Lacy (Bill) Clay, Sr.	1997–2001	105th–106th
Chaka Fattah	1997–2001	105th–106th
Harold Ford, Jr.	1997–2003	105th–107th
Major Robert Odell Owens	1997–2007	105th–109th
Donald M. Payne	1997–2007	105th–109th
Robert C. Scott	1997–2003 2005–2007	105th–107th 109th
Danny K. Davis	2003–2007	108th–109th
Denise L. Majette	2003–2005	108th
Energy and Commerce [1981–1995; 2001–Present] 97th through 103rd Congresses; 107th Congress–Present (See also the following standing committees: Interstate and Foreign Commerce; Commerce)
Cardiss Collins	1981–1995	97th–103rd
George Thomas (Mickey) Leland	1981–1989	97th–101st
Edolphus Towns	1989–1995 2001–2009	101st–103rd 107th–110th
Gary A. Franks	1993–1995	103rd
Craig Anthony Washington	1993–1995	103rd
Bobby L. Rush	2001–	107th–111th
Albert R. Wynn	2001–2008	107th–110th
G. K. Butterfield	2007–	110th–111th
Donna M. Christensen	2009–	111th
Enrolled Bills [1876–1947] 44th through 79th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: House Administration))
Oscar Stanton De Priest	1929–1935	71st–73rd
Expenditures in Executive Departments [1927–1953] 70th through 82nd Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Government Reform and Oversight; Government Operations; Government Reform; Oversight and Government Reform)
William Levi Dawson	1943–1953	78th–82nd
Expenditures in the Interior Department [1860–1927] 36th through 69th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Expenditures in Executive Departments)
John Roy Lynch	1873–1875	43rd
Expenditures in the Navy Department [1816–1927] 14th through 69th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Expenditures in Executive Departments)
Josiah Thomas Walls	1873–1875	43rd
Expenditures on the Public Buildings [1816–1927] 14th through 69th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Expenditures in Executive Departments)
James Edward O’Hara	1885–1887	49th
Henry Plummer Cheatham	1889–1893	51st–52nd
Expenditures in the Treasury Department [1816–1927] 14th through 69th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Expenditures in Executive Departments)
George Washington Murray	1895–1897	54th
Financial Services [2001–Present] 107th Congress–Present (See also the following standing committees: Banking and Currency; Banking, Currency, and Housing; Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs; Banking and Financial Services)
Julia May Carson	2001–2007	107th–110th
William L. Clay, Jr.	2001–	107th–111th
Harold Ford, Jr.	2001–2007	107th–109th
Stephanie Tubbs Jones	2001–2003	107th
Barbara Lee	2001–2007	107th–109th
Gregory W. Meeks	2001–	107th–111th
Maxine Waters	2001–	107th–111th
Melvin L. Watt	2001–	107th–111th
Artur Davis	2003–2007	108th–109th
David Scott	2003–2009	108th–110th
Emanuel Cleaver II	2005–	109th–111th
Al Green	2005–	109th–111th
Gwendolynne S. (Gwen) Moore	2005–	109th–111th
Keith Ellison	2007–	110th–111th
André Carson	2008–	110th–111th
Foreign Affairs [1822–1977; 1981–1995; 2007–Present] 17th through 94th Congresses; 97th through 103rd Congresses; 110th Congress–Present (See also the following standing committee: International Relations)
Charles Coles Diggs, Jr.	1959–1975	86th–93rd
Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix, Sr.	1961–1977	87th–94th
Ronald V. Dellums	1971–1973	92nd
Cardiss Collins	1975–1977	94th
George William Crockett, Jr.	1981–1991	97th–101st
Mervyn Malcolm Dymally	1981–1993	97th–102nd
Donald M. Payne	1989–1995 2007–	101st–103rd 110th–111th
Alcee Hastings	1993–1995	103rd
Cynthia Ann McKinney	1993–1995	103rd
Albert R. Wynn	1993–1995	103rd
Sheila Jackson Lee	2007–	110th–111th
Gregory W. Meeks	2007–	110th–111th
David Scott	2007–2009	110th
Diane Edith Watson	2007–	110th–111th
Keith Ellison	2009–	111th
Barbara Lee	2009–	111th
Freedmen's Affairs [1866–1875] 39th through 43rd Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Judiciary)
Joseph Hayne Rainey	1870–1873	41st–42nd
Government Operations [1953–1995] 83rd through 103rd Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Expenditures in the Executive Departments; Government Reform and Oversight; Government Reform; Oversight and Government Reform)
William Levi Dawson	1953–1970	83rd–91st
George Washington Collins	1970–1972	91st–92nd
John Conyers, Jr.	1971–1995	92nd–103rd
Cardiss Collins	1973–1995	93rd–103rd
Barbara Jordan	1975–1979	94th–95th
Harold Washington	1981–1983	97th
Major Robert Odell Owens	1983–1995	98th–103rd
Edolphus Towns	1983–1995	98th–103rd
Donald M. Payne	1989–1995	101st–103rd
Corrine Brown	1993–1995	103rd
Barbara-Rose Collins	1993–1995	103rd
Floyd Harold Flake	1993–1995	103rd
Bobby L. Rush	1993–1995	103rd
Craig Anthony Washington	1993–1995	103rd
Government Reform [2001–2007] 106th through 109th Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Expenditures in the Executive Departments; Government Reform and Oversight; Oversight and Government Reform)
Elijah E. Cummings	1999–2007	106th–109th
Danny K. Davis	1999–2007	106th–109th
Chaka Fattah	1999–2001	106th
Harold Ford, Jr.	1999–2001	106th
Eleanor Holmes Norton	1999–2007	106th–109th
Major Robert Odell Owens	1999–2007	106th–109th
Edolphus Towns	1999–2007	106th–109th
William L. Clay, Jr.	2001–2007	107th–109th
Diane Edith Watson	2001–2007	107th–109th
Government Reform and Oversight [1995–1999] 104th and 105th Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Expenditures in the Executive Departments; Government Reform; Oversight and Government Reform)
Cardiss Collins	1995–1997	104th
Barbara-Rose Collins	1995–1997	104th
Chaka Fattah	1995–1999	104th–105th
Carrie P. Meek	1995–1997	104th
Eleanor Holmes Norton	1995–1999	104th–105th
Major Robert Odell Owens	1995–1999	104th–105th
Edolphus Towns	1995–1999	104th–105th
Elijah E. Cummings	1996–1999	104th–105th
Danny K. Davis	1997–1999	105th
Harold Ford, Jr.	1997–1999	105th
House Administration [1947–1995; 1999–Present] 80th through 103rd Congresses; 106th Congress–Present (See also the following standing committee: House Oversight)
Augustus Freeman (Gus) Hawkins	1969–1985	91st–98th
William Lacy (Bill) Clay, Sr.	1985–1995	99th–103rd
William Herbert Gray III	1991	102nd
Chaka Fattah	1999–2003	106th–107th
Juanita Millender-McDonald	2003–2007	108th–110th
Artur Davis	2007–	110th–111th
House Oversight [1995–1999] 104th and 105th Congresses (See also the following standing committee: House Administration)
William J. Jefferson	1995–1997	104th
Homeland Security [2005–Present] 109th Congress–Present
Donna M. Christensen	2005–2009	109th–110th
Sheila Jackson Lee	2005–	109th–111th
Kendrick B. Meek	2005–2007	109th
Eleanor Holmes Norton	2005–	109th–111th
Bennie Thompson	2005–	109th–111th
Yvette Diane Clarke	2007–	110th–111th
Al Green	2007–	110th–111th
Emanuel Cleaver II	2009–	111th
Laura Richardson	2009–	111th
Indian Affairs [1821–1947] 17th through 79th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Public Lands, which later became Interior and Insular Affairs)
Joseph Hayne Rainey	1873–1875	43rd
Oscar Stanton De Priest	1929–1935	71st–73rd
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.	1945–1947	79th
Insular Affairs [1899–1947] 56th through 79th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Public Lands, which later became Interior and Insular Affairs)
William Levi Dawson	1943–1947	78th–79th
Interior and Insular Affairs [1951–1993] ¹ 82nd through 102nd Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Natural Resources; Resources)
William Levi Dawson	1951–1953	82nd
Charles Coles Diggs, Jr.	1955–1959	84th–85th
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.	1955–1961	84th–86th
Yvonne Brathwaite Burke	1973–1975	93rd
Melvin Herbert Evans	1979–1981	96th
John Lewis	1987–1993	100th–102nd
Internal Security [1969–1975] 91st through 93rd Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Judiciary)
Louis Stokes	1969–1971	91st
International Relations [1977–1981; 1995–2007] 95th and 96th Congresses; 104th through 109th Congresses (See also the following standing committee: Foreign Affairs)
Cardiss Collins	1977–1981	95th–96th
Charles Coles Diggs, Jr.	1977–1980	95th–96th
Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix, Sr.	1977–1979	95th
William Herbert Gray III	1979–1981	96th
George William Crockett, Jr.	1980–1981	96th
Victor O. Frazer	1995–1997	104th
Alcee Hastings	1995–2001	104th–106th
Cynthia Ann McKinney	1995–2003	104th–107th
Donald M. Payne	1995–2007	104th–109th
Albert R. Wynn	1995–1997	104th
Earl Frederick Hilliard	1997–2003	105th–107th
Barbara Lee	1999–2007	106th–109th
Gregory W. Meeks	1999–2007	106th–109th
Diane Edith Watson	2001–2007	107th–109th
Interstate and Foreign Commerce [1893–1981] 53rd through 96th Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Energy and Commerce; Commerce)
Ralph Harold Metcalfe	1971–1979	92nd–95th
George Thomas (Mickey) Leland	1979–1981	96th
Invalid Pensions [1831–1947] 21st through 79th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committees: Judiciary; Veterans’ Affairs)
Benjamin Sterling Turner	1871–1873	42nd
Joseph Hayne Rainey	1875–1879	44th–45th
James Edward O’Hara	1885–1887	49th
Oscar Stanton De Priest	1929–1935	71st–73rd
William Levi Dawson	1943–1947	78th–79th
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.	1945–1947	79th
Irrigation and Reclamation [1925–1947] 69th through 79th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Public Lands, which later became Interior and Insular Affairs)
William Levi Dawson	1943–1947	78th–79th
Judiciary [1813–Present] 13th Congress–Present
John Conyers, Jr.	1965–	89th–111th
Charles B. Rangel	1972–1975	92nd–93rd
Barbara Jordan	1973–1979	93rd–95th
Harold Washington	1981–1983	97th–98th
George William Crockett, Jr.	1982–1991	97th–101st
Craig Anthony Washington	1990–1995	101st–103rd
Robert C. Scott	1993–	103rd–111th
Melvin L. Watt	1993–	103rd–111th
Sheila Jackson Lee	1995–	104th–111th
Maxine Waters	1997–	105th–111th
Artur Davis	2007–2009	110th
Keith Ellison	2007–2009	110th
Hank Johnson	2007–	110th–111th
Labor [1883–1947] 48th through 79th Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Education and Labor; Education and the Workforce)
Thomas Ezekiel Miller	1890–1891	51st
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.	1945–1947	79th
Manufactures [1819–1911] 16th through 61st Congresses
Robert Carlos De Large	1871–1873	42nd
Alonzo Jacob Ransier	1873–1875	43rd
John Adams Hyman	1875–1877	44th
Robert Smalls	1884–1885	48th
Merchant Marine and Fisheries [1947–1995] 80th through 103rd Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committees: National Security; Resources; Science; Transportation and Infrastructure)
Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix, Sr.	1958–1961	85th–86th
Ralph Harold Metcalfe	1972–1978	92nd–95th
Melvin Herbert Evans	1979–1981	96th
William J. Jefferson	1991–1993	102nd
Lucien Edward Blackwell	1992–1993	102nd
Alcee Hastings	1993–1995	103rd
Bennie Thompson	1993–1995	103rd
Militia [1815–1835] 14th through 23rd Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Military Affairs, which later became Armed Services)
Josiah Thomas Walls	1871–1875	42nd–43rd
Robert Brown Elliott	1873–1874	43rd
Robert Smalls	1877–1879 1882–1883 1884–1885	45th 47th 48th
John Roy Lynch	1882–1883	47th
Mileage [1837–1927] 25th through 69th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Accounts, which later became House Administration)
Josiah Thomas Walls	1875–1877	44th
Mines and Mining [1865–1947] 39th through 79th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Public Lands, which later became Interior and Insular Affairs)
John Roy Lynch	1873–1877	43rd–44th
James Edward O’Hara	1883–1885	48th
National Security [1995–1999] 104th through 105th Congresses (See also the following standing committee: Armed Services)
Ronald V. Dellums	1995–1998	104th–105th
William J. Jefferson	1995–1997	104th
Julius Caesar (J. C.) Watts, Jr.	1995–1999	104th–105th
Cynthia Ann McKinney	1997–1999	105th
Natural Resources [1993–1995; 2007–Present] 103rd and 104th Congresses; 110th Congress–Present (See also the following standing committees: Interior and Insular Affairs; Resources)
Donna M. Christensen	2007–	110th–111th
Oversight and Government Reform [2007–Present] 110th Congress–Present (See also the following standing committees: Expenditures in the Executive Departments; Government Operations; Government Reform and Oversight; Government Reform)
William L. Clay, Jr.	2007–	110th–111th
Elijah E. Cummings	2007–	110th–111th
Danny K. Davis	2007–	110th–111th
Eleanor Holmes Norton	2007–	110th–111th
Edolphus Towns	2007–	110th–111th
Diane Edith Watson	2007–	110th–111th
Post Office and Civil Service [1947–1995] 80th through 103rd Congresses (See also the following standing committee: Post Office and Post Roads. Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committees: Government Reform and Oversight; House Oversight)
Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix, Sr.	1963–1979	88th–95th
William Lacy (Bill) Clay, Sr.	1973–1995	93rd–103rd
Ralph Harold Metcalfe	1977–1978	95th
George Thomas (Mickey) Leland	1979–1989	96th–101st
Ronald V. Dellums	1981–1985	97th–98th
Gus Savage	1981–1983	97th
Katie Beatrice Hall	1983–1985	98th
Mervyn Malcolm Dymally	1984–1993	98th–102nd
Charles Arthur Hayes	1989–1993	101st–102nd
Barbara-Rose Collins	1991–1995	102nd–103rd
Eleanor Holmes Norton	1991–1995	102nd–103rd
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.	1993–1995	103rd
Alcee Hastings	1993–1995	103rd
Melvin L. Watt	1993–1995	103rd
Albert R. Wynn	1993–1995	103rd
Post Office and Post Roads [1808–1947] 10th through 79th Congresses (See also the following standing committee: Post Office and Civil Service)
Oscar Stanton De Priest	1933–1935	73rd
Arthur Wergs Mitchell	1935–1943	74th–77th
Private Land Claims [1816–1911] 14th through 61st Congresses
Richard Harvey Cain	1877–1879	45th
Public Works [1947–1975] 80th through 93rd Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Public Works and Transportation; Transportation and Infrastructure)
George Washington Collins	1971–1972	92nd
Charles B. Rangel	1971–1973	92nd
Yvonne Brathwaite Burke	1973–1975	93rd
Cardiss Collins	1974–1975	93rd
Public Works and Transportation [1975–1995] 94th through 103rd Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Public Works; Transportation and Infrastructure)
Gus Savage	1981–1993	97th–102nd
Katie Beatrice Hall	1983–1985	98th
Edolphus Towns	1983–1997	98th–104th
John Lewis	1987–1993	100th–102nd
Lucien Edward Blackwell	1991–1995	102nd–103rd
Barbara-Rose Collins	1991–1995	102nd–103rd
Eleanor Holmes Norton	1991–1995	102nd–103rd
Corrine Brown	1993–1995	103rd
James E. Clyburn	1993–1995	103rd
Eddie Bernice Johnson	1993–1995	103rd
Walter R. Tucker III	1993–1995	103rd
Public Expenditures [1814–1880; 1881–1883] 13th through 46th Congresses; 47th Congress
Jeremiah Haralson	1875–1877	44th
Resources [1995–2007] 105th through 109th Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Interior and Insular Affairs; Natural Resources)
Donna M. Christensen	1997–2007	105th–109th
Rules [1849–Present] 31st Congress–Present
Andrew Jackson Young, Jr.	1975–1977	94th
Shirley A. Chisholm	1977–1983	95th–97th
Alan Dupree Wheat	1983–1995	98th–103rd
Alcee Hastings	2001–2009	107th–110th
Science [1995–2007] 104th through 109th Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Science and Astronautics; Science, Space, and Technology; Science and Technology)
Alcee Hastings	1995–2001	104th–106th
Sheila Jackson Lee	1995–2007	104th–109th
Eddie Bernice Johnson	1995–2007	104th–109th
Barbara Lee	1998–1999	105th
Al Green	2005–2007	109th
Science and Astronautics [1959–1975] 86th through 93rd Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Science and Technology; Science, Space, and Technology; Science)
Charles B. Rangel	1971–1973	92nd
Science and Technology [1975–1987; 2007–Present] 94th through 99th Congresses; 110th Congress–Present (See also the following standing committees: Science and Astronautics; Science, Space, and Technology; Science)
Mervyn Malcolm Dymally	1981–1985	97th–98th
Eddie Bernice Johnson	2007–	110th–111th
Laura Richardson	2007–2009	110th
André Carson	2008–2009	110th
Donna F. Edwards	2008–	110th–111th
Marcia L. Fudge	2009–	111th
Science, Space, and Technology [1987–1995] 100th through 103rd Congresses (See also the following standing committees: Science and Astronautics; Science and Technology; Science)
Eddie Bernice Johnson	1993–1995	103rd
Bobby L. Rush	1993–1995	103rd
Robert C. Scott	1993–1995	103rd
Small Business [1975–Present] 94th Congress–Present
Parren James Mitchell	1975 1979–1987	94th 96th–99th
George William Crockett, Jr.	1981–1983	97th
Gus Savage	1981–1993	97th–102nd
Charles Arthur Hayes	1983–1991	98th–101st
Alton R. Waldon, Jr.	1985–1987	99th
John Conyers, Jr.	1987–1995	100th–103rd
Floyd Harold Flake	1987–1997	100th–105th
Kweisi Mfume	1987–1996	100th–104th
Gary A. Franks	1991–1993	102nd
Eva M. Clayton	1993–1997	103rd–104th
Cleo Fields	1993–1997	103rd–104th
Earl Frederick Hilliard	1993–1997	103rd–104th
Bennie Thompson	1993–1997	103rd–104th
Walter R. Tucker III	1993–1995	103rd–104th
Maxine Waters	1993–1996	103rd–104th
James E. Clyburn	1995–1997	104th
Chaka Fattah	1995–1997	104th
Eleanor Holmes Norton	1995–1997	104th
Juanita Millender-McDonald	1996–2007	104th–109th
Danny K. Davis	1997–2007	105th–109th
Jesse Jackson, Jr.	1997–1999	105th
Donna M. Christensen	1999–2007	106th–109th
Stephanie Tubbs Jones	1999–2003	106th–107th
Frank W. Ballance, Jr.	2003–2004	108th
G. K. Butterfield	2003–2005	108th
Denise L. Majette	2003–2005	108th
Gwendolynne S. (Gwen) Moore	2005–2009	109th–110th
Yvette Diane Clarke	2007–	110th–111th
William J. Jefferson	2007–2009	110th
Hank Johnson	2007–2009	110th
Standards of Official Conduct [1967–Present] 90th Congress–Present
Louis Stokes	1979–1985 1991–1993	96th–98th 102nd
Julian Carey Dixon	1983–1991	98th–101st
Kweisi Mfume	1993–1995	103rd
Chaka Fattah	1997–2001	105th–106th
Stephanie Tubbs Jones	2001–2008	107th–110th
G. K. Butterfield	2009–	111th
Transportation and Infrastructure [1995–Present] 104th Congress–Present (See also the following standing committees: Public Works; Public Works and Transportation)
Corrine Brown	1995–	104th–111th
James E. Clyburn	1995–1999	104th–105th
Barbara-Rose Collins	1995–1997	104th
Eddie Bernice Johnson	1995–	104th–111th
Eleanor Holmes Norton	1995–	104th–111th
Walter R. Tucker III	1995	104th
Elijah E. Cummings	1996–	104th–111th
Juanita Millender-McDonald	1996–2007	104th–110th
Julius Caesar (J. C.) Watts, Jr.	1997–2001	105th–106th
Julia May Carson	2003–2007	108th–110th
Laura Richardson	2007–	110th–111th
Donna F. Edwards	2008–	110th–111th
Veterans' Affairs [1947–Present] 80th Congress–Present
Charles Coles Diggs, Jr.	1955–1959	84th–85th
Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix, Sr.	1958–1961	85th–86th
Shirley A. Chisholm	1969–1973	91st–92nd
Harold Eugene Ford, Sr.	1975–1977	94th
Maxine Waters	1991–1997	102nd–104th
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.	1993–1997	103rd–104th
Corrine Brown	1993–	103rd–111th
James E. Clyburn	1993–1999	103rd–105th
Julia May Carson	1997–2003	105th–107th
War Claims [1873–1947] 43rd through 79th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Judiciary)
Robert Smalls	1885–1887	49th
Ways and Means [1795–Present] 4th Congress–Present
Harold Eugene Ford, Sr.	1975–1997	94th–104th
Charles B. Rangel	1975–	94th–111th
William J. Jefferson	1993–1995 1997–2007	103rd 105th–109th
John Lewis	1993–	103rd–111th
Mel Reynolds	1993–1995	103rd
Stephanie Tubbs Jones	2003–2008	108th–110th
Artur Davis	2007–	110th–111th
Kendrick B. Meek	2007–	110th–111th
Danny K. Davis	2009–	111th

House Select Committees

Black-American Congressional Select Committee Assignments
Member’s Name	Term	Congress
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence [1977–Present] 95th Congress–Present
Louis Stokes	1983–1989	98th–100th
Ronald V. Dellums	1991–1993	102nd
Julian Carey Dixon	1993–2000	103rd–106th
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.	1997–2003	105th–107th
Alcee Hastings	1999–	106th–111th
Select Aging [1975–1993] 94th Congress through 102nd Congresses
Harold Eugene Ford, Sr.	1975–1993	94th–102nd
George William Crockett, Jr.	1981–1991	97th–101st
John Lewis	1989–1993	101st–102nd
Gary A. Franks	1991–1993	102nd
Select Committee on Assassinations [1976–1979] 94th and 95th Congresses
Yvonne Brathwaite Burke	1976–1979	94th–95th
Walter Edward Fauntroy	1976–1979	94th–95th
Harold Eugene Ford, Sr.	1976–1979	94th–95th
Louis Stokes	1976–1979	94th–95th
Select Committee on Centennial Celebration and the Proposed National Census of 1875 [1875–1877] 44th Congress
Joseph Hayne Rainey	1875–1877	44th
Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families [1983–1993] 98th through 102nd Congresses
George Thomas (Mickey) Leland	1983–1985	98th
Alan Dupree Wheat	1983–1993	98th–102nd
Floyd Harold Flake	1987–1989	100th
Barbara-Rose Collins	1991–1993	102nd
Select Committee on Committees II [1979–1980] 96th Congress
William Lacy (Bill) Clay, Sr.	1979–1980	96th
Select Committee on Crime [1969–1973] 91st through 93rd Congresses
Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix, Sr.	1969–1971	91st
Charles B. Rangel	1971–1973	92nd–93rd
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming [2007–Present] 110th Congress–Present
Emanuel Cleaver II	2007–	110th–111th
Select Committee on Homeland Security [2002–2005] 107th and 108th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Homeland Security)
Donna M. Christensen	2003–2005	108th
Kendrick B. Meek	2003–2005	108th
Eleanor Holmes Norton	2003–2005	108th
Bennie Thompson	2003–2005	108th
Select Committee on the House Beauty Shop [1967–1977] 90th through 94th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: House Administration)
Yvonne Brathwaite Burke	1975–1979	94th–95th
Select Committee on Hunger [1984–1993] 98th through 102nd Congresses
George Thomas (Mickey) Leland	1984–1989	98th–101st
Floyd Harold Flake	1987–1993	100th–102nd
Kweisi Mfume	1987–1989	100th
Alphonso Michael (Mike) Espy	1989–1993	101st–102nd
Alan Dupree Wheat	1990–1993	101st–102nd
Select Committee on Intelligence [1975–1976] 94th Congress (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following select committee: Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence)
Ronald V. Dellums	1976	94th
Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran [1987] 100th Congress
Louis Stokes	1987	100th
Select Committee to Investigate the Voting Irregularities of August 2, 2007 [2007–Present] 110th Congress–Present
Artur Davis	2007–2009	110th
Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control [1976–1993] 94th through 102nd Congresses
Charles B. Rangel	1976–1993	94th–102nd
Cardiss Collins	1979–1993	96th–102nd
Walter Edward Fauntroy	1983–1991	98th–101st
Edolphus Towns	1983–1993	98th–102nd
Kweisi Mfume	1989–1993	101st–102nd
Donald M. Payne	1991–1993	102nd
Craig Anthony Washington	1991–1993	102nd
Select Small Business [1947–1975] 80th through 93rd Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following standing committee: Small Business)
Parren James Mitchell	1971–1975	92nd–93rd
Select Committee on Standards of Official Conduct [1966] 89th Congress (Jurisdiction transferred to the following standing committee: Standards of Official Conduct)
Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix, Sr.	1966	89th
Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns With China [1998–1999] 105th and 106th Congresses
Robert C. Scott	1998–1999	105th–106th

Joint Committees

Black-American Congressional Joint Committee Assignments
Member’s Name	Term	Congress
Joint Committee on Bicentennial Arrangements [1975–1976] 94th Congress
Edward William Brooke III	1975–1976	94th
Joint Committee on Defense Production [1950–1977] 81st through 95th Congresses
Edward William Brooke III	1975–1979	94th–95th
Parren James Mitchell	1975–1979	94th–95th
Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction [1987] 100th Congress
Alphonso Michael (Mike) Espy	1987–1989	100th
William Herbert Gray III	1987–1989	100th
Joint Economic Committee [1957–Present] 85th Congress–Present
Parren James Mitchell	1977–1987	95th–99th
Augustus Freeman (Gus) Hawkins	1981–1991	97th–101st
Kweisi Mfume	1991–1996	102nd–104th
Melvin L. Watt	2001–2005	107th–108th
Joint Committee on the Library [1947–Present] 80th Congress–Present
Augustus Freeman (Gus) Hawkins	1981–1985	97th–98th
William Lacy (Bill) Clay, Sr.	1989–1991	101st
Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick	1997–1999	105th
Juanita Millender-McDonald	2003–2007	108th–110th
Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress [1992–1993] 102nd and 103rd Congresses
Eleanor Holmes Norton	1992–1995	102nd–103rd
Joint Committee on Printing [1947–Present] 80th Congress–Present
Augustus Freeman (Gus) Hawkins	1977–1985	95th–98th
William J. Jefferson	1995–1997	104th
Chaka Fattah	1999–2003	106th–107th
Juanita Millender-McDonald	2005–2007	109th–110th
Joint Committee on Taxation [1977–Present] 94th Congress–Present
Charles B. Rangel	1995–1999 2003–2005 2009–	104th–105th 108th 111th

Senate Standing Committees

Black-American Congressional Senate Standing Committee Assignments
Member’s Name	Term	Congress
Aeronautical and Space Sciences [1958–1977] 85th through 94th Congresses
Edward William Brooke III	1967–1969	90th
Appropriations [1867–Present] 40th Congress–Present
Edward William Brooke III	1971–1979	92nd–95th
Armed Services [1947–Present] 80th Congress–Present
Edward William Brooke III	1969–1971	91st
Roland Burris	2009–	111th
Banking and Currency [1913–1971] 63rd through 90th Congresses (See also the following standing committee: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs)
Edward William Brooke III	1967–1971	90th–91st
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs [1971–Present] 92nd Congress–Present (See also the following standing committee: Banking and Currency)
Edward William Brooke III	1971–1979	92nd–95th
Carol Moseley-Braun	1993–1999	103rd–105th
District of Columbia [1816–1977] 14th through 94th Congresses
Hiram Rhodes Revels	1870	41st
Education and Labor [1869–1947] 41st through 79th Congresses (Jurisdiction reassigned to the following committee: Labor and Public Welfare, which later became Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions)
Hiram Rhodes Revels	1870–1871	41st
Blanche Kelso Bruce	1875–1881	44th–46th
Environment and Public Works [1977–Present] 95th Congress–Present
Barack Obama	2005–2008	109th–110th
Finance [1947–Present] 80th Congress–Present
Carol Moseley-Braun	1995–1999	104th–105th
Foreign Relations [1947–Present] 80th Congress–Present
Barack Obama	2005–2008	109th–110th
Government Operations [1953–1993] 83rd through 102nd Congresses
Edward William Brooke III	1968–1969	90th
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions [1999–Present] 106th Congress–Present
Barack Obama	2007–2008	110th
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs [2005–Present] 109th Congress–Present
Barack Obama	2007–2008	110th
Roland Burris	2009–	111th
Improvement of the Mississippi River and Its Tributaries [1879–1921] 46th through 66th Congresses (See also the following select committee: Levees of the Mississippi River)
Blanche Kelso Bruce	1879–1881	46th
Veterans' Affairs [1971–Present] 92nd Congress–Present
Barack Obama	2005–2008	109th–110th
Roland Burris	2009–	111th

Senate Select Committees

Black-American Congressional Senate Select Committee Assignments
Member’s Name	Term	Congress
Select Equal Education Oportunity [1970–1972] 91st and 92nd Congresses
Edward William Brooke III	1970–1972	91st–92nd
Select Committee on Levees of the Mississippi River [1877–1879] 45th Congress, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sessions (See also the following standing committee: Improvement of the Mississippi River and Its Tributaries)
Blanche Kelso Bruce	1877–1879	45th
Select Standards and Conduct [1965–1977] 88th through 94th Congresses
Edward William Brooke III	1973–1977	93rd–94th
Special Committee on Aging [1961–Present] 87th Congress–Present
Edward William Brooke III	1971–1979	92nd–95th
Carol Moseley-Braun	1995–1999	104th–105th
Select Committee to Investigate the Freedmen's Savings and Trust Company [1879–1881] 46th Congress, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sessions
Blanche Kelso Bruce	1879–1881	46th

Footnotes

In the 82nd Congress (1951–1953), Interior and Insular Affairs changed names from Public Lands to Interior and Insular Affairs on February 2, 1951.

Historical Data

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Black Members’ Committee Assignments (Standing, Joint, Select) in the U.S. House and Senate, 1870–Present

House Standing Committees

Agriculture [1820–Present]

Armed Services [1947–1995; 1999–Present]

Appropriations [1865–Present]

Banking and Currency [1865–1975]

Banking, Currency, and Housing [1975–1977]

Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs [1977–1995]

Banking and Financial Services [1995–2001]

Budget [1974–Present]

Coinage, Weights, and Measures [1864–1947]

Commerce [1995–2001]

District of Columbia [1808–1995]

Economic and Educational Opportunities [1995–1997]

Education [1883–1947]

Education and Labor [1867–1883; 1947–1995; 2007–Present]

Education and the Workforce [1997–2007]

Energy and Commerce [1981–1995; 2001–Present]

Enrolled Bills [1876–1947]

Expenditures in Executive Departments [1927–1953]

Expenditures in the Interior Department [1860–1927]

Expenditures in the Navy Department [1816–1927]

Expenditures on the Public Buildings [1816–1927]

Expenditures in the Treasury Department [1816–1927]

Financial Services [2001–Present]

Foreign Affairs [1822–1977; 1981–1995; 2007–Present]

Freedmen's Affairs [1866–1875]

Government Operations [1953–1995]

Government Reform [2001–2007]

Government Reform and Oversight [1995–1999]

House Administration [1947–1995; 1999–Present]

House Oversight [1995–1999]

Homeland Security [2005–Present]

Indian Affairs [1821–1947]

Insular Affairs [1899–1947]

Interior and Insular Affairs [1951–1993] 1

Internal Security [1969–1975]

International Relations [1977–1981; 1995–2007]

Interstate and Foreign Commerce [1893–1981]

Invalid Pensions [1831–1947]

Irrigation and Reclamation [1925–1947]

Judiciary [1813–Present]

Labor [1883–1947]

Manufactures [1819–1911]

Merchant Marine and Fisheries [1947–1995]

Militia [1815–1835]

Mileage [1837–1927]

Mines and Mining [1865–1947]

National Security [1995–1999]

Natural Resources [1993–1995; 2007–Present]

Oversight and Government Reform [2007–Present]

Post Office and Civil Service [1947–1995]

Post Office and Post Roads [1808–1947]

Private Land Claims [1816–1911]

Public Works [1947–1975]

Public Works and Transportation [1975–1995]

Public Expenditures [1814–1880; 1881–1883]

Resources [1995–2007]

Rules [1849–Present]

Science [1995–2007]

Science and Astronautics [1959–1975]

Science and Technology [1975–1987; 2007–Present]

Science, Space, and Technology [1987–1995]

Small Business [1975–Present]

Standards of Official Conduct [1967–Present]

Transportation and Infrastructure [1995–Present]

Veterans' Affairs [1947–Present]

War Claims [1873–1947]

Ways and Means [1795–Present]

House Select Committees

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence [1977–Present]

Select Aging [1975–1993]

Select Committee on Assassinations [1976–1979]

Select Committee on Centennial Celebration and the Proposed National Census of 1875 [1875–1877]

Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families [1983–1993]

Select Committee on Committees II [1979–1980]

Interior and Insular Affairs [1951–1993] ¹