By Chip Brownlee
Alabama Political Reporter
Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, who recently took office as the state’s junior senator, received his committee appointments Tuesday, which include positions on the health and homeland security committees, among others.
Senate leadership appointed Jones, who was sworn in Jan. 3, to the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and, the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging.
“It is a tremendous honor to be given the opportunity to serve on these four important Senate committees,” Jones said. “These assignments provide me with an avenue to begin working for the people of Alabama on issues such as creating long-term funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and ensuring our nation’s safety from those who would do us harm. I am also looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to protect programs that our seniors and middle-class Americans depend on.”
The Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, chaired by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, has jurisdiction over the country’s health care, education, employment and retirement policies, while the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs plays an integral role in managing a broad range of banking, mass transit, finance, urban development and housing legislation. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.
The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee provides oversight for the Department of Homeland Security since its inception in 2003. The committee is led by chair Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, and Ranking Member Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri.
The Committee on Aging focuses on discussion and debate on matters relating to older Americans.