The Committee on Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The committee has jurisdiction over all taxation, tariffs, and other revenue-raising measures, as well as a number of other programs including Social Security, unemployment benefits, Medicare, the enforcement of child support laws, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, foster care, and adoption programs. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House committee unless they are granted a waiver from their party's congressional leadership. It has long been regarded as the most prestigious committee of the House of Representatives.
The United States Constitution requires that all bills regarding taxation must originate in the U.S. House of Representatives, and House rules dictate that all bills regarding taxation must pass through Ways and Means. This system imparts upon the committee and its members a significant degree of influence over other representatives, committees, and public policy. Its Senate counterpart is the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.
In the 119th Congress, the committee's chair is Jason T. Smith. Recent chairs have included Bill Thomas, Charlie Rangel, Sander Levin, Dave Camp, Paul Ryan, Kevin Brady, and Richard Neal.
History
250px|thumb|Inside a Ways and Means meeting in November 2019
The Ways and Means Committee was first established during the first Congress, in 1789. However, this initial version was disbanded after only 8 weeks; for the next several years, only ad hoc committees were formed, to write up laws on notions already debated in the whole House. It was first established as a standing committee by resolution adopted December 21, 1795, and first appeared among the list of regular standing committees on January 7, 1802. Upon its original creation, it held power over both taxes and spending, until the spending power was given to the new Appropriations Committee in 1865.
During the Civil War the key policy-maker in Congress was Thaddeus Stevens, as chair of the committee and Republican floor leader. He took charge of major legislation that funded the war effort and permanently transformed the nation's economic policies regarding tariffs, bonds, income and excise taxes, national banks, suppression of money issued by state banks, greenback currency, and western railroad land grants. Stevens was one of the major policymakers regarding Reconstruction, and obtained a House vote of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson (who was acquitted by the Senate in 1868). Hans L. Trefousse, his leading biographer, concludes that Stevens "was one of the most influential representatives ever to serve in Congress. [He dominated] the House with his wit, knowledge of parliamentary law, and sheer willpower, even though he was often unable to prevail." Historiographical views of Stevens have dramatically shifted over the years, from the early 20th-century view of Stevens and the Radical Republicans as tools of enormous business and motivated by hatred of the white South, to the perspective of the neoabolitionists of the 1950s and afterwards, who applauded their efforts to give equal rights to the freed slaves.
Three future presidents – James Polk, Millard Fillmore, and William McKinley – served as committee chair. Before the official roles of floor leader came about in the late 19th century, the chair of Ways and Means was considered the majority leader. The chair is one of very few representatives to have office space within the Capitol building itself.
Political significance
Because of its wide jurisdiction, Ways and Means has always been one of the most important committees with respect to impact on policy. Although it lacks the prospects for reelection help that comes with the Appropriations Committee, it is seen as a valuable post for two reasons: given the wide array of interests that are affected by the committee, a seat makes it easy to collect campaign contributions and since its range is broad, members with a wide array of policy concerns often seek positions to be able to influence policy decisions. Some recent major issues that have gone through the Ways and Means Committee include welfare reform, a Medicare prescription drug benefit, Social Security reform, George W. Bush's tax cuts, and trade agreements including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
From 1911 to 1974, the Ways and Means Committee also had the responsibility to appoint members of other committees in addition to its legislative duties. When Ways and Means chair Wilbur Mills' career ended in scandal, Congressman Phillip Burton transferred the committee's selection powers to a separate, newly created committee.
- Brendan Boyle, Pennsylvania
- Don Beyer, Virginia
- Dwight Evans, Pennsylvania
- Brad Schneider, Illinois
- Jimmy Panetta, California
- Jimmy Gomez, California
- Steven Horsford, Nevada
- Stacey Plaskett, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Tom Suozzi, New York
|}
Resolutions electing members: (chair), (Ranking Member), (R), (D)
Subcommittees
There are six subcommittees in the 118th Congress. In 2011, the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support was renamed the Subcommittee on Human Resources, returning to the name it held prior to the 110th United States Congress. In 2015, the Select Revenue Measures was renamed the Subcommittee on Tax Policy. In 2019 these two subcommittees were again renamed under Democratic control; Human Resources became Worker and Family Support and Tax Policy was renamed to Select Revenue Measures. In 2023 and under a return to Republican control, they were again renamed to Work and Welfare and Tax respectively.
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittee
!Chair
!Ranking Member
!Name
!Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
| |Democratic
|OH
|1863
|1865
|-
|
| |Democratic
|NY
|1866
|1866
|-
|
| |Democratic
|MO
|1866
|1867
|-
|
| |Democratic
|NY
|1867
|1873
|-
|
| |Democratic
|KY
|1873
|1875
|-
|
| |Republican
|ME
|1875
|1876
|-
|
| |Republican
|PA
|1876
|1879
|-
|
| |Republican
|OH
|1879
|1880
|-
|
| |Republican
|PA
|1880
|1881
|-
|
| |Democratic
|PA
|1881
|1883
|-
|
| |Republican
|PA
|1883
|1889
|-
|
| |Democratic
|KY
|1889
|1890
|-
|
| |Democratic
|TX
|1890
|1891
|-
|
| |Republican
|ME
|1891
|1895
|-
|
| |Democratic
|GA
|1895
|1896
|-
|
| |Democratic
|TN
|1896
|1897
|-
|
| |Democratic
|TX
|1897
|1899
|-
|
| |Democratic
|TN
|1899
|1903
|-
|
| |Democratic
|MS
|1903
|1907
|-
|
| |Democratic
|MO
|1907
|1911
|-
|
| |Republican
|NY
|1911
|1914
|-
|
| |Republican
|MI
|1914
|1919
|-
|
| |Democratic
|NC
|1919
|1923
|-
|
| |Democratic
|TX
|1923
|1931
|-
|
| |Republican
|OR
|1931
|1933
|-
|
| |Republican
|MA
|1933
|1945
|-
|
| |Republican
|MN
|1945
|1947
|-
|
| |Democratic
|NC
|1947
|1949
|-
|
| |Republican
|NY
|1949
|1953
|-
|
| |Democratic
|TN
|1953
|1955
|-
|
| |Republican
|NY
|1955
|1959
|-
|
| |Republican
|PA
|1959
|1960
|-
|
| |Republican
|IL
|1960
|1963
|-
|
| |Republican
|WI
|1963
|1973
|-
|
| |Republican
|PA
|1973
|1977
|-
|
| |Republican
|NY
|1977
|1985
|-
|
| |Republican
|TN
|1985
|1988
|-
|
| |Republican
|TX
|1988
|1995
|-
|
| |Democratic
|FL
|1995
|1997
|-
|
| |Democratic
|NY
|1997
|2007
|-
|
| |Republican
|LA
|2007
|2009
|-
|
| |Republican
|MI
|2009
|2011
|-
|
| |Democratic
|MI
|2011
|2017
|-
|
| |Democratic
|MA
|2017
|2019
|-
|
| |Republican
|TX
|2019
|2023
|-
|
| |Democratic
|MA
|2023
|present
|}
</div>
Historical membership rosters
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
|valign=top |
- Jason Smith, Missouri, Chair
- Vern Buchanan, Florida, Vice Chair
- Adrian Smith, Nebraska
- Mike Kelly, Pennsylvania
- David Schweikert, Arizona
- Darin LaHood, Illinois
- Brad Wenstrup, Ohio
- Jodey Arrington, Texas
- Drew Ferguson, Georgia
- Ron Estes, Kansas
- Lloyd Smucker, Pennsylvania
- Kevin Hern, Oklahoma
- Carol Miller, West Virginia
- Greg Murphy, North Carolina
- David Kustoff, Tennessee
- Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania
- Greg Steube, Florida
- Claudia Tenney, New York
- Michelle Fischbach, Minnesota
- Blake Moore, Utah
- Michelle Steel, California
- Beth Van Duyne, Texas
- Randy Feenstra, Iowa
- Nicole Malliotakis, New York
- Mike Carey, Ohio
|valign=top |
- Richard Neal, Massachusetts, Ranking Member
- Lloyd Doggett, Texas
- Mike Thompson, California
- John B. Larson, Connecticut
- Earl Blumenauer, Oregon
- Bill Pascrell, New Jersey (until August 21, 2024)
- Danny Davis, Illinois
- Linda Sánchez, California
- Brian Higgins, New York (until February 2, 2024)
- Terri Sewell, Alabama
- Suzan DelBene, Washington
- Judy Chu, California, Vice Ranking Member
- Gwen Moore, Wisconsin
- Dan Kildee, Michigan
- Don Beyer, Virginia
- Dwight Evans, Pennsylvania
- Brad Schneider, Illinois
- Jimmy Panetta, California
- Jimmy Gomez, California (from February 6, 2024)
- Steven Horsford, Nevada (from September 10, 2024)
|}
Resolutions electing members: (chair), (Ranking Member), (R), (D), (Gomez), (Horsford)
;Subcommittees
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittee
!Chair
!Ranking Member
|-
|Health
|Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
|Lloyd Doggett (D–TX)
|-
|Oversight
|David Schweikert (R-AZ)
|Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) (until August 21, 2024)<br>Linda Sánchez (D-CA) (from September 10, 2024)
|-
|Social Security
|Drew Ferguson (R-GA)
|John B. Larson (D-CT)
|-
|Tax
|Mike Kelly (R-PA)
|Mike Thompson (D-CA)
|-
|Trade
|Adrian Smith (R-NE)
|Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
|-
|Work and Welfare
|Darin LaHood (R-IL)
|Danny K. Davis (D–IL)
|}
117th Congress
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
|valign=top |
- Richard Neal, Massachusetts, Chair
- Lloyd Doggett, Texas
- Mike Thompson, California
- John B. Larson, Connecticut
- Earl Blumenauer, Oregon
- Ron Kind, Wisconsin
- Bill Pascrell, New Jersey
- Danny Davis, Illinois
- Linda Sánchez, California
- Brian Higgins, New York
- Terri Sewell, Alabama
- Suzan DelBene, Washington, Vice Chair
- Judy Chu, California
- Gwen Moore, Wisconsin
- Dan Kildee, Michigan
- Brendan Boyle, Pennsylvania
- Don Beyer, Virginia
- Dwight Evans, Pennsylvania
- Brad Schneider, Illinois
- Tom Suozzi, New York
- Jimmy Panetta, California
- Stephanie Murphy, Florida
- Jimmy Gomez, California
- Steven Horsford, Nevada
- Stacey Plaskett, U.S. Virgin Islands
|valign=top |
- Kevin Brady, Texas, Ranking Member
- Devin Nunes, California (until Jan. 3, 2022)
- Vern Buchanan, Florida
- Adrian Smith, Nebraska
- Tom Reed, New York (until May 10, 2022)
- Mike Kelly, Pennsylvania
- Jason Smith, Missouri
- Tom Rice, South Carolina
- David Schweikert, Arizona
- Jackie Walorski, Indiana (until Aug. 3, 2022)
- Darin LaHood, Illinois
- Brad Wenstrup, Ohio
- Jodey Arrington, Texas
- Drew Ferguson, Georgia
- Ron Estes, Kansas
- Lloyd Smucker, Pennsylvania
- Kevin Hern, Oklahoma
- Carol Miller, West Virginia
- Greg Murphy, North Carolina (from Jan. 19, 2022)
- David Kustoff, Tennessee (from June 8, 2022)
|}
Resolutions electing members: (chair), (Ranking Member), (D), (R), (R), (R)
;Subcommittees
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittee
!Chair
!Ranking Member
|-
|Health
|Lloyd Doggett (D–TX)
|Vern Buchanan (R–FL)
|-
|Oversight
|Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)
|Tom Rice (R-SC)
|-
|Select Revenue Measures
|Mike Thompson (D-CA)
|Mike Kelly (R–PA)
|-
|Social Security
|John B. Larson (D-CT)
|Tom Reed (R-NY)
|-
|Trade
|Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
|Adrian Smith (R–NE)
|-
|Worker and Family Support
|Danny Davis (D–IL)
|Vacant
|}
116th Congress
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
|valign=top |
- Richard Neal, Massachusetts, Chair
- Lloyd Doggett, Texas
- Mike Thompson, California
- John B. Larson, Connecticut
- Earl Blumenauer, Oregon
- Ron Kind, Wisconsin
- Bill Pascrell, New Jersey
- Danny Davis, Illinois
- Linda Sánchez, California
- Brian Higgins, New York
- Terri Sewell, Alabama, Vice Chair
- Suzan DelBene, Washington
- Judy Chu, California
- Gwen Moore, Wisconsin
- Dan Kildee, Michigan
- Brendan Boyle, Pennsylvania
- Don Beyer, Virginia
- Dwight Evans, Pennsylvania
- Brad Schneider, Illinois
- Tom Suozzi, New York
- Jimmy Panetta, California
- Stephanie Murphy, Florida
- Jimmy Gomez, California
- Steven Horsford, Nevada
- Cedric Richmond, Louisiana (since September 22, 2020)
|valign=top |
- Kevin Brady, Texas, Ranking Member
- Devin Nunes, California
- Vern Buchanan, Florida
- Adrian Smith, Nebraska
- Kenny Marchant, Texas
- Tom Reed, New York
- Mike Kelly, Pennsylvania
- George Holding, North Carolina
- Jason Smith, Missouri
- Tom Rice, South Carolina
- David Schweikert, Arizona
- Jackie Walorski, Indiana
- Darin LaHood, Illinois
- Brad Wenstrup, Ohio
- Jodey Arrington, Texas
- Drew Ferguson, Georgia
- Ron Estes, Kansas
|}
Resolutions electing members: (chair); (Ranking Member), (D), (R)
;Subcommittee
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittee
!Chair
!Ranking Member
|-
|Health
|Lloyd Doggett (D–TX)
|Devin Nunes (R–CA)
|-
|Worker and Family Support
|Danny Davis (D–IL)
|Jackie Walorski (R–IN)
|-
|Oversight
|Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)
|Mike Kelly (R–PA)
|-
|Select Revenue Measures
|Mike Thompson (D-CA)
|Adrian Smith (R–NE)
|-
|Social Security
|John B. Larson (D-CT)
|Tom Reed (R-NY)
|-
|Trade
|Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
|Vern Buchanan (R–FL)
|}
115th Congress
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
|valign=top |
- Kevin Brady, Texas, Chair
- Sam Johnson, Texas
- Devin Nunes, California
- Dave Reichert, Washington
- Peter Roskam, Illinois
- Vern Buchanan, Florida
- Adrian Smith, Nebraska
- Lynn Jenkins, Kansas
- Erik Paulsen, Minnesota
- Kenny Marchant, Texas
- Diane Black, Tennessee
- Tom Reed, New York
- Mike Kelly, Pennsylvania
- Jim Renacci, Ohio
- Kristi Noem, South Dakota
- George Holding, North Carolina
- Jason Smith, Missouri
- Tom Rice, South Carolina
- David Schweikert, Arizona
- Jackie Walorski, Indiana
- Carlos Curbelo, Florida
- Mike Bishop, Michigan
- Darin LaHood, Illinois
- Brad Wenstrup, Ohio
|valign=top |
- Richard Neal, Massachusetts, Ranking Member
- Sander Levin, Michigan
- John Lewis, Georgia
- Lloyd Doggett, Texas
- Mike Thompson, California
- John B. Larson, Connecticut
- Earl Blumenauer, Oregon
- Ron Kind, Wisconsin
- Bill Pascrell, New Jersey
- Joseph Crowley, New York
- Danny Davis, Illinois
- Linda Sánchez, California
- Brian Higgins, New York, Vice Ranking Member
- Terri Sewell, Alabama
- Suzan DelBene, Washington
- Judy Chu, California
|}
- Resolutions electing members: (chair); (Ranking Member); , , (R); , (D)
See also
- List of United States House of Representatives committees
- Trump v. Mazars USA, LLP
References
Sources
- H. Doc. 100–244, The Committee on Ways and Means a Bicentennial History 1789-1989
Further reading
- Cataldo, Everett Felix. "The House Committee on Ways and Means" (PhD dissertation, The Ohio State University, 1965) online.
- Curtis, Thomas B. "The House Committee on Ways and Means: Congress Seen Through a Key Committee." Wisconsin Law Review(1966): 121+ online.
- Davidson, Roger. Masters of the House: Congressional leadership over two centuries (Routledge, 2018)
- Kennon, Donald R., and Rebecca Mary Rogers. The Committee on Ways and Means: A Bicentennial History 1789–1989 (US Government Printing Office, 1989).
- Manley, John F. "The House Committee on Ways and Means: Conflict management in a congressional committee." American Political Science Review 59.4 (1965): 927–939.
- Manley, John F. The politics of finance: the House Committee on Ways and Means ( Little, Brown, 1970).
- Sullivan, Terry. "Voter's paradox and logrolling: An initial framework for committee behavior on appropriations and ways and means." Public Choice (1976): 31–44. online
- Winfree, Paul. A History (and Future) of the Budget Process in the United States (Springer Nature, 2019).
Primary sources
- Rangel, Charles B.; Wynter, Leon (2007). And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since: From the Streets of Harlem to the Halls of Congress. New York: St. Martin's Press.
External links
- (Archive)
- House Ways and Means Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.
- House Ways and Means Committee Hearings and Meetings Video. Congress.gov.