Standing committee of the United States Senate
TheUnited States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP ) generally considers these majorsocial policy issues. Its jurisdiction also extends beyond these issues to include several more specific areas, as defined bySenate rules.
While it is currently known as the HELP Committee, the committee was originally founded on January 28, 1869, as theCommittee on Education . Its name was changed to theCommittee on Education and Labor on February 14, 1870, when petitions relating to labor were added to its jurisdiction from theCommittee on Naval Affairs .
The committee's jurisdiction at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries focused largely on issues relating to federal employees’ working conditions and federal education aid. Prominent action considered by the committee in the 1910s and 1920s included the creation of anational minimum wage , the establishments of aDepartment of Labor , aDepartment of Education , and aChildren's Bureau . During the 1930s, the committee took action on theNational Labor Relations Act , theWalsh–Healey Public Contracts Act of 1936 and theFair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
In 1944, the jurisdiction of thePublic Health Service was transferred from theCommerce Committee to the Committee on Education and Labor, adding issues relating to public health matters to its jurisdiction. The committee's name was changed during the80th Congress to theCommittee on Labor and Public Welfare as part of theLegislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (Public Law 79-601). The act further expanded the committee's oversight to include the rehabilitation, health, and education of veterans. Mine safety was also added to the committee's jurisdiction in 1949.
During the Administration of PresidentLyndon B. Johnson , the committee took the lead in shaping legislation as part of Johnson'swar on poverty , resulting in theEconomic Opportunity Act of 1964 . Through theLegislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-510), certain issues pertaining to veterans were transferred to the newly createdCommittee on Veterans Affairs . In the95th Congress , the Senate passed S. Res. 4, which renamed the committee to be theCommittee on Human Resources . However, the name was again changed in the96th Congress by S. Res. 30 to theCommittee on Labor and Human Resources . On March 18, 1992, the committee's jurisdiction was updated to include all of the areas listed below. The committee was given its current name, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, on January 19, 1999, by S. Res. 20.[ 1]
On July 25, 2024, the committee voted 16–4 to issue its first-eversubpoena , compelling the testimony ofSteward Health Care's CEORalph de la Torre in relation to accusations of mismanagement of the health system.[ 2]
Jurisdictional areas [ edit ] Under the Rule 25[ 3] [ 4]
[ edit ] Majority[ 5] Minority[ 6] Bill Cassidy , Louisiana,Chair Rand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineLisa Murkowski , AlaskaMarkwayne Mullin , OklahomaRoger Marshall , KansasTim Scott , South CarolinaJosh Hawley , MissouriTommy Tuberville , AlabamaJim Banks , IndianaJon Husted , Ohio (from January 24, 2025)Ashley Moody , Florida (from January 24, 2025)Bernie Sanders , Vermont[ 7] Ranking Member Patty Murray , WashingtonTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutTim Kaine , VirginiaMaggie Hassan , New HampshireJohn Hickenlooper , ColoradoEd Markey , MassachusettsAndy Kim , New JerseyLisa Blunt Rochester , DelawareAngela Alsobrooks , Maryland
Majority Minority Ted Kennedy , Massachusetts,Chair Chris Dodd , Connecticut,Vice Chair Tom Harkin , IowaBarbara Mikulski , MarylandJeff Bingaman , New MexicoPatty Murray , WashingtonJack Reed , Rhode IslandHillary Clinton , New YorkBernie Sanders , Vermont[ 7] Sherrod Brown , OhioBarack Obama , Illinois, until November 16, 2008Mike Enzi , Wyoming,Ranking Member Judd Gregg , New HampshireLamar Alexander , TennesseeRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaLisa Murkowski , AlaskaOrrin Hatch , UtahPat Roberts , KansasWayne Allard , ColoradoTom Coburn , Oklahoma
The Committee was chaired byDemocrat Ted Kennedy ofMassachusetts until his death on August 25, 2009. Underseniority rules, Acting ChairChristopher Dodd was next in line, but Dodd chose instead to remain chair of theSenate Banking Committee .[ 9] Tom Harkin , next in line by seniority, assumed the chair on September 9, 2009, vacating his post as chair of theSenate Agriculture Committee .[ 10] Republican Mike Enzi ofWyoming continued to serve asRanking Member .
Majority Minority Ted Kennedy , Massachusetts,Chair until June 9, 2009Tom Harkin , Iowa,Chair from September 9, 2009Chris Dodd , Connecticut,Acting Chair from June 9, 2009 – September 9, 2009Barbara Mikulski , MarylandJeff Bingaman , New MexicoPatty Murray , WashingtonJack Reed , Rhode IslandBernie Sanders , Vermont[ 7] Bob Casey , PennsylvaniaKay Hagan , North CarolinaJeff Merkley , OregonAl Franken , Minnesota, from June 7, 2009Michael Bennet , ColoradoCarte Goodwin , West Virginia, July 2010 – November 2010Joe Manchin , West Virginia, from November 2010Mike Enzi , Wyoming,Ranking Member Judd Gregg , New HampshireLamar Alexander , TennesseeRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaJohn McCain , ArizonaOrrin Hatch , UtahLisa Murkowski , AlaskaTom Coburn , OklahomaPat Roberts , Kansas
Source:2010 Congressional Record ,S6226 ,
Majority Minority Tom Harkin , Iowa,Chair Barbara Mikulski , MarylandJeff Bingaman , New MexicoPatty Murray , WashingtonBernie Sanders , Vermont[ 7] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaKay Hagan , North CarolinaJeff Merkley , OregonAl Franken , MinnesotaMichael Bennet , ColoradoSheldon Whitehouse , Rhode IslandRichard Blumenthal , ConnecticutMike Enzi , Wyoming,Ranking Member Lamar Alexander , TennesseeRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaRand Paul , KentuckyOrrin Hatch , UtahJohn McCain , ArizonaPat Roberts , KansasLisa Murkowski , AlaskaMark Kirk , Illinois
Source:2011 Congressional Record ,S557
Majority Minority Tom Harkin , Iowa,Chair Barbara Mikulski , MarylandPatty Murray , WashingtonBernie Sanders , Vermont[ 7] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaKay Hagan , North CarolinaAl Franken , MinnesotaMichael Bennet , ColoradoSheldon Whitehouse , Rhode IslandTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutElizabeth Warren , MassachusettsLamar Alexander , Tennessee,Ranking member Mike Enzi , WyomingRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaRand Paul , KentuckyOrrin Hatch , UtahPat Roberts , KansasLisa Murkowski , AlaskaMark Kirk , IllinoisTim Scott , South Carolina
Source:2013 Congressional Record ,S296 to 297
Majority Minority Lamar Alexander , Tennessee,Chair Mike Enzi , WyomingRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaRand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineLisa Murkowski , AlaskaMark Kirk , IllinoisTim Scott , South CarolinaOrrin Hatch , UtahPat Roberts , KansasBill Cassidy , LouisianaPatty Murray , Washington, Ranking MemberBarbara Mikulski , MarylandBernie Sanders , Vermont[ 7] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaAl Franken , MinnesotaMichael Bennet , ColoradoSheldon Whitehouse , Rhode IslandTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutElizabeth Warren , Massachusetts
Source[ 11]
Source:2015 Congressional Record ,S67 to 68
[ 12]
Majority Minority Lamar Alexander , Tennessee,Chair Mike Enzi , WyomingRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , GeorgiaRand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineBill Cassidy , LouisianaTodd Young , IndianaOrrin Hatch , UtahPat Roberts , KansasLisa Murkowski , AlaskaTim Scott , South CarolinaPatty Murray , Washington, Ranking MemberBernie Sanders , Vermont[ 7] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaMichael Bennet , ColoradoAl Franken , Minnesota (until January 2, 2018)Tammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutElizabeth Warren , MassachusettsTim Kaine , VirginiaMaggie Hassan , New HampshireTina Smith , Minnesota (from January 3, 2018)Doug Jones , Alabama (from January 3, 2018)
Majority Minority Lamar Alexander , Tennessee,Chair Mike Enzi , WyomingRichard Burr , North CarolinaJohnny Isakson , Georgia(until December 31, 2019) Rand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineBill Cassidy , LouisianaPat Roberts , KansasLisa Murkowski , AlaskaTim Scott , South CarolinaMitt Romney , UtahMike Braun , IndianaKelly Loeffler , Georgia(from January 6, 2020) Patty Murray , Washington,Ranking Member Bernie Sanders , Vermont[ 7] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutElizabeth Warren , MassachusettsTim Kaine , VirginiaMaggie Hassan , New HampshireTina Smith , MinnesotaDoug Jones , AlabamaJacky Rosen , Nevada
Majority Minority Patty Murray , Washington,Chair Bernie Sanders , Vermont[ 7] Bob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutTim Kaine , VirginiaMaggie Hassan , New HampshireTina Smith , MinnesotaJacky Rosen , NevadaBen Ray Luján , New MexicoJohn Hickenlooper , ColoradoRichard Burr , North Carolina,Ranking Member Rand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineBill Cassidy , LouisianaLisa Murkowski , AlaskaTim Scott , South CarolinaMitt Romney , UtahMike Braun , IndianaRoger Marshall , KansasTommy Tuberville , AlabamaJerry Moran , Kansas
Majority[ 13] Minority[ 14] Bernie Sanders , VermontChair [ 7] Patty Murray , WashingtonBob Casey Jr. , PennsylvaniaTammy Baldwin , WisconsinChris Murphy , ConnecticutTim Kaine , VirginiaMaggie Hassan , New HampshireTina Smith , MinnesotaBen Ray Luján , New MexicoJohn Hickenlooper , ColoradoEd Markey , MassachusettsBill Cassidy , Louisiana,Ranking Member Rand Paul , KentuckySusan Collins , MaineLisa Murkowski , AlaskaMike Braun , IndianaRoger Marshall , KansasMitt Romney , UtahTommy Tuberville , AlabamaMarkwayne Mullin , OklahomaTed Budd , North Carolina
Subcommittees Defunct subcommittees [ edit ] The committee has had other subcommittees in the past, such as:
theSubcommittee on Migratory Labor during the 1950s through 1970s. theSubcommittee on Health and Scientific Research during the 1970s. theSubcommittee Investigating Violations of Free Speech and the Rights of Labor , informally known as the "La Follette Civil Liberties Committee" [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ]
^ "U.S. Senate. Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. 1/19/1999- Organization Authority Record" .National Archives .^ Weixel, Nathaniel (July 25, 2024)."Senate panel votes to subpoena Steward Health CEO" .The Hill . RetrievedJuly 25, 2024 . ^ "Rule XXV - Standing Committees" (PDF) .govinfo.gov . RetrievedApril 7, 2017 .^ "About" .help.senate.gov . RetrievedApril 7, 2017 .^ S.Res. 16 ,S.Res. 38 (119th Congress)^ S.Res. 17 (119th Congress)^a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Bernie Sanders is an Independent, but caucuses with Democrats on the committee. ^a b "Chair Cassidy, Ranking Member Sanders Announce Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress" .U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions . February 12, 2025. RetrievedFebruary 12, 2025 .^ Paul Kane, Ben Pershing."Dodd Decides Against Taking Over Senate Health Committee" .Washington Post . Archived fromthe original on October 24, 2012. ^ "Life after Ted Kennedy: all eyes on Chris Dodd - politico.com" .Politico . RetrievedFebruary 19, 2010 .^ "U.S. Senate: Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions" .senate.gov . RetrievedJanuary 8, 2017 .^ "RULES OF PROCEDURE" (PDF) .govinfo.gov . 2015. RetrievedJuly 9, 2019 .^ S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)^ S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)^a b "Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee - Subcommittees, 118th Congress" .Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee . RetrievedMarch 17, 2023 .
