Harkin To Replace Kennedy As Chair Of Senate HELP Committee

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 11 Sep 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) on Wednesday announced that he will succeed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, CongressDaily reports (Swindell/Friedman, CongressDaily, 9/9). Harkin's announcement came after Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), the committee's second in command, said that he will retain his role as chair of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Dodd had been leading the HELP Committee while Kennedy underwent treatment for brain cancer (Roll Call, 9/9).

According to CQ Today, the change is not expected to create any significant legislative priority changes in the near term. Harkin said the committee's top policy priorities this fall include moving health care reform legislation through the Senate and preparing a food safety bill (S 510) (Demirjian, CQ Today, 9/9). He added, "I expect to work closely with Sen. Dodd, who has guided the HELP Committee so capably in reporting the Affordable Health Choices Act, and who will continue to play a leading role as health care legislation moves to the Senate floor."

In adopting the new role, Harkin will resign his post as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee -- a position that will now go to Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) (Roll Call, 9/9).

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