Michael Bennet’s Committees and Subcommittees

Finance-Chair; Orrin Hatch (R, UT)

Ranking Member; Ron Wyden (D, OR)

Subcommittees:

ü  Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure

ü  International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness

ü  Taxation and IRS Oversight

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)-Chair; Lamar Alexander (R, TN)

Ranking Member; Patty Murray (D, WA)

            Subcommittees:

ü  Children and Families

ü  Employment and Workplace Safety

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry-Chair; Pat Roberts (R, KS)

Ranking Member; Debbie Stabenow (D, MI)

            Subcommittees:

ü  Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources

ü  Jobs, Rural Economic Growth and Energy Innovation

ü  Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Food and Agriculture

Senator Michael Bennet

Finance: The Senate Finance Committee has jurisdiction over tax writing, Medicare, Social Security, health care, and international trade.

Being on this committee will get members a lot of donations from banks, insurance companies, etc. and will be attractive to voters, as they have the power when it comes to things voters care about (taxes, Medicare, Social Security, etc.) With health care being a prominent issue for voters now, position-taking a certain way for MCs could gain them a lot of votes.

Bennet and the Finance Committee: Sponsored Bill S. 344-“A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to equalize the excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas.” This bill will equalize the excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas. I’m not quite sure what this bill means, but it equalizes a tax so I’m assuming it’s good and constituents will like it.

This is a good committee for Bennet to be on. It is influential and he can easily credit claim or position take. He will have a say in where the money goes, so constituents will want to keep him in office.

HELP: This committee deals with proposals to change the healthcare system, minimum wage, education, working conditions and compensation, and welfare and labor laws. (OpenSecrets.org-National Press Club Winner) Everything that falls under the jurisdiction of the HELP committee is again very important for voters. It affects their everyday life so they will pay attention to it and reward their representatives if they represent them well.

Bennet and the HELP Committee: Sponsored Bill S. 605-“A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to invest in innovation for education.” This bill was introduced in February of 2015 and calls for more educational grants and more money to support innovation in schools. Bennet used to be the superintendent of Denver Public Schools, so he clearly has experience in this. Any bill that gives people more money will be popular with constituents. Education is always an issue and could always call for reform. This bill will be popular with students and teachers.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Jurisdiction of this committee includes: agricultural economics and research, animal industry and diseases, crop insurance and soil conservation, farm credit and farm security, food stamp programs, rural development, rural electrification, and watersheds, school nutrition programs.

Bennet and the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee: Since Colorado has a lot of agriculture and national parks, this committee is important for Coloradan constituents. However, the last time Bennet proposed a bill was in May of 2013 with Bill S. 859-Animal and Public Health Protection Act. This bill proposed to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and would give the Secretary of Agriculture power to enter into contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements with laboratories for animal and public health and safety. (Government website Congress.gov). The fact that Bennet hasn’t sponsored a bill this congress relating to a committee that he is on that is so important and influential in his state is not good. He has sponsored many other bills, but in different areas and committees. Colorado is a state with a large of agriculture and ranching. Bennet needs to step it up, or he might be in danger with his constituents. (Bennet has also not co-sponsored any bills in this committee).