After a closer-than-expected midterm election in the US, divided authorities will outline the following two years of house advocacy and coverage.
Republicans regained management of the Home of Representatives with a small majority. Democrats retained slender management of the Senate, with one extra seat up for rivalry that might be determined in December.
Even in a wave election, most incumbents return to Congress. This yr was not a wave, with just a few dozen new faces becoming a member of Congress, many the results of retirements. No key members specializing in our coverage points misplaced their reelection bids.
Nonetheless, flipping the Home from Democratic to Republican ends in a shift in focus and a focus of that chamber; Republican members will now management the subjects of investigations and oversight, which laws might be thought-about, which received’t, and the general schedule of congressional exercise. Committee management strikes to Republican members and their workers, with present Democratic leaders demoted to “Rating Members” — a title designating seniority however little precise energy over the course and final result of committee work.
The Planetary Society’s coverage pursuits fall underneath the purview of two committees within the Home of Representatives: Science, House, and Know-how and Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations.
Setting committee management is usually a slightly concerned course of that takes into consideration seniority (time served in Congress), political aspirations, and time period limits. Barring these complexities, Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) is will possible resume the chairmanship of the science committee, with Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) returning as chair of the house subcommittee. Each are robust supporters of house exploration.
A number of members of the science committee retired, together with present Chair Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), and the “Mars 2033” bumper sticker-toting Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO). All are changed by members of the identical social gathering, although it’s unclear if their successors will select to serve within the science committee or put their energies elsewhere.
