The Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee cannot serve on any other House Committees, though they can apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership. 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
• Enforcement of child support laws
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federal welfare program
• Foster care and adoption programs

The U.S. Constitution requires that all bills regarding taxation must originate in the House of Representatives, and House procedure is that all bills regarding taxation must go through this committee. These stipulations make this House committee particularly powerful, especially in comparison with its Senate counterpart, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.

The Ways and Means Committee in the 111th Congress is chaired by Representative Charles Rangel of New York, whose political strength is weakened as the House investigates his alleged ethics violations and calls have increased for him to step down from chairing the powerful committee, at least while the investigation continues. Next in line behind Rangel to chair the Ways and Means Committee is Representative Pete Stark of California.^[1]

[edit] History

The idea of a "Committee of Ways and Means" to handle the financial matters of a legislature is older than the Federal Congress, having been used in the English Parliament and the colonial and State legislatures in America.

The 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,^[2] and first appeared among the list of regular standing committees on January 7, 1802.^[3] 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.

The Chairman of Ways and Means has always been one of the most powerful members of Congress. No one was more aggressive in wielding its power than Thaddeus Stevens, the Republican chairman during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Three future presidents - James Polk, Millard Fillmore, and William McKinley - served as Committee Chairman. Before the official roles of floor leader came about in the late 19th century, the Chairman of Ways and Means was considered the Majority Leader. The Chairman is one of only seven representatives to have office space within the Capitol building itself (the others being Speaker, Majority Leader and Minority Leader, Majority Whip and Minority Whip, and Appropriations Committee chairman).

[edit] Role

Ways and Means has always been one of the most important committees in a policy sense, due to its wide jurisdiction. While it lacks the prospects for re-election help that comes with the Appropriations Committee, it is seen as a valuable post for two reasons. First, since its range is so broad, members with a wide array of policy concerns often seek positions, simply to be able to influence policy decisions. Major issues that have gone through this committee read like a laundry list of important bills, including welfare reform, a Medicare prescription drug benefit, Social Security reform, President George W. Bush's tax cuts, and all trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Second, given the wide array of interests that are affected by the committee, a seat makes it very easy to collect campaign contributions.

Until 1974, the Ways and Means Committee decided which chairmanships newly elected members of Congress would have, along with its regular financial duties.^[4] 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.^[4]

[edit] Members, 111th Congress

The committee chairman is Charlie Rangel of New York,^[5] and the ranking member is Dave Camp of Michigan.^[6] Camp replaces former Representative Jim McCrery of Louisiana, who retired at the end of the 110th Congress.

Sources:

• Resolution (H.Res. 24) electing majority members to standing committees.
• Resolution (H.Res. 38) electing minority members to standing committees.

[edit] Subcommittees

There are six subcommittees in the 111th Congress

[edit] Chairmen

[edit] External links

• Official Committee web site

[edit] Sources

• H. Doc. 100-244, The Committee on Ways and Means a Bicentennial History 1789-1989

1. ^ James Oliphant, "Rep. Charles Rangel's ethics inquiry may put Pelosi in a bind," Los Angeles Times December 8, 2008
2. ^ Ways and Means Bicentennial History, Page 38
3. ^ Ways and Means Bicentennial History, Page 58
4. ^ ^{a b} Frum, David (2000). How We Got Here: The '70s. New York, New York: Basic Books. pp. 276-279. ISBN 0465041957. 
5. ^ HRes8 {{{3}}}
6. ^ H.Res. 12