Meet the New Congress: Part 2 - The Senate

One of the oldest standing legislative committees in the U.S. Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has jurisdiction over communications, interstate commerce, science, and technology policy. In the 117th Congress, broadband access will likely remain a priority. With the results of the 2020 elections, the Commerce Committee is experiencing a change in leadership. On February 3, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said leaders of both parties had finalized the organizing resolution for the new Democratic-controlled Senate. Modeled after the agreement of the chamber's last power-sharing arrangement in 2001, each party will have an equal number of committee seats, but the majority party will hold committee chairmanships and control the agenda, setting the schedule for nominees and legislation to come to the floor for votes, even if committee votes are tied. The committee will be comprised of 14 Democrats and 14 Republicans. Here we look briefly at their broadband priorities.