WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow will serve on four committees, including the powerful Budget Committee, as she begins her first term as a senator, the Lansing Democrat said Thursday.
Senate Democrats voted to appoint Stabenow to the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and the Special Committee on Aging, besides the Budget Committee.
Stabenow served two terms in the U.S. House before unseating GOP U.S. Sen. Spence Abraham in November. She said she had asked to serve on the Agriculture, Aging and Banking committees, but was pleased to see the Budget Committee added to that list.
“My assignments allow me not only to be involved in a larger budget debate, but able to focus very broadly on Michigan issues,” she said. “I’ve been able to position myself to really fight for the needs of all the communities in Michigan.”
The Budget Committee is particularly important at the beginning of a new president’s term, she said, because it helps set budget priorities. For example, the budget committee will decide where money from the budget surplus should be spent.
“The budget committee really looks at the pie,” she said.
Stabenow said her legislative priorities include passing a patients’ bill of rights and adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare. Both are issues she will bring to the Special Committee on Aging. Another priority is campaign finance reform, she said.
In a news release, Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle said he had confidence in Stabenow’s leadership and command of the issues.
“I had a strong desire to see Senator Stabenow’s commonsense approach and her unique style of consensus building at work in these important committee assignments,” Daschle said. “Her tireless efforts on behalf of working families will be a huge benefit for not only Michigan, but the entire country.”
Abraham, a former Michigan Republican official who had served one term in the Senate, has been nominated to serve as U.S. Energy Secretary by President-elect George W. Bush. The Senate must confirm his appointment.
Michigan’s senior U.S. senator, Democrat Carl Levin of Detroit, will remain on the committees he served on last session. Levin is a top-ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee and also serves on the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Government Affairs Committee and the Small Business Committee.
