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2023–2025 meeting of U.S. legislature From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 118th United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C., on January 3, 2023, and will end on January 3, 2025, during the third and fourth years of President Joe Biden's term in office.
118th United States Congress | |
---|---|
117th ← → 119th | |
![]() United States Capitol (2024) | |
January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 | |
Members | 100 senators 435 representatives 6 non-voting delegates |
Senate majority | Democratic |
Senate President | Kamala Harris (D) |
House majority | Republican |
House Speaker |
|
Sessions | |
1st: January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2024 2nd: January 3, 2024 – present |
In the 2022 midterm elections, the Republican Party won control of the House 222–213, taking the majority for the first time since the 115th Congress, while the Democratic Party gained one seat in the Senate, where they already had effective control, and giving them a 51–49 seat majority (with a caucus of 48 Democrats and three independents).[lower-alpha 2] With Republicans winning the House, the 118th Congress ended the federal government trifecta Democrats held in the 117th.[1]
This congress also features the first female Senate president pro tempore (Patty Murray), the first Black party leader (Hakeem Jeffries) in congressional history, and the longest-serving Senate party leaders (Mitch McConnell and Dick Durbin).[lower-alpha 3] The Senate has the highest number of Independent members in a single Congress since the ratification of the 17th Amendment after Joe Manchin left the Democratic Party to become an Independent.[2]
The 118th Congress has been characterized as a uniquely ineffectual Congress, with its most notable events pointing towards political dysfunction.[3] The intense gridlock, particularly in the Republican-controlled House, where the Republican Conference's majority was often undercut by internal disputes amongst its members,[4] resulted in it passing the lowest number of laws for the first year of session since the Richard Nixon administration, and possibly ever.[5] The unproductive session demotivated many seasoned legislators, with five committee chairs amongst the dozens declaring resignations before the end of the session, three of whom were eligible to reprise their positions if the Republican Party retained their majority for 2025.[6]
The Congress began with a multi-ballot election for Speaker of the House, which had not happened since the 68th Congress in 1923. Kevin McCarthy was eventually elected speaker on the 15th ballot. After relying on bipartisan votes to get out of a debt ceiling crisis and government shutdown threats, McCarthy became the first speaker to ever be removed from the role during a legislative session on October 3, 2023.[7] Following three failed attempts by various representatives to fill the post, on October 25, Mike Johnson was elected as speaker. Johnson would advance four more bipartisan continuing resolutions from November into March to avoid shutdowns.[8][9] Congress finalized the 2024 United States federal budget on March 23, 2024, through two separate minibus packages.[10] Following a contentious foreign aid vote, a motion to vacate against Johnson was defeated in bipartisan support.[11]
Partisan disciplinary actions have also increased. With the expulsion of New York Representative George Santos from the House in December 2023 over the opposition of the Speaker, this was the first congress since the 107th in which a member was expelled, and the first ever in which a Republican was. There was also an increase of censures passed in the House,[12] being the first congress with multiple censures since the 1983 congressional page sex scandal and the most in one year since 1870. In December 2023, House Republicans authorized an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden,[13] followed by the impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas in February 2024, the first time a cabinet secretary has been the target of impeachment proceedings since William W. Belknap in 1876, and only the second such cabinet impeachment in history.[14][15] The charges were dismissed by the Senate, the first time the Senate dismissed impeachment articles without trial after the reading.[16]
Party (shading shows control) |
Total | Vacant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Independent[lower-alpha 4] | Republican | |||
End of previous Congress[lower-alpha 5] | 48 | 2 | 50 | 100 | 0 |
Begin (January 3, 2023) | 48 | 3 | 49 | 100 | 0 |
January 8, 2023[lower-alpha 6] | 48 | 99 | 1 | ||
January 23, 2023[lower-alpha 6] | 49 | 100 | 0 | ||
September 29, 2023[lower-alpha 7] | 47 | 99 | 1 | ||
October 3, 2023[lower-alpha 7] | 48 | 100 | 0 | ||
May 31, 2024[lower-alpha 8][48] | 47 | 4 | |||
August 20, 2024[lower-alpha 9] | 46 | 99 | 1 | ||
Current voting share | 50.5% | 49.5% |
Party (shading shows control) |
Total | Vacant | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Republican | |||
End of previous Congress | 216 | 213 | 429 | 6 |
Begin (January 3, 2023)[lower-alpha 10] | 212 | 222 | 434 | 1 |
March 7, 2023[lower-alpha 10] | 213 | 435 | 0 | |
May 31, 2023[lower-alpha 11] | 212 | 434 | 1 | |
September 15, 2023[lower-alpha 12] | 221 | 433 | 2 | |
November 13, 2023[lower-alpha 11] | 213 | 434 | 1 | |
November 28, 2023[lower-alpha 12] | 222 | 435 | 0 | |
December 1, 2023[lower-alpha 13] | 221 | 434 | 1 | |
December 31, 2023[lower-alpha 14] | 220 | 433 | 2 | |
January 21, 2024[lower-alpha 15] | 219 | 432 | 3 | |
February 2, 2024[lower-alpha 16] | 212 | 431 | 4 | |
February 28, 2024[lower-alpha 13] | 213 | 432 | 3 | |
March 22, 2024[lower-alpha 17] | 218 | 431 | 4 | |
April 20, 2024[lower-alpha 18] | 217 | 430 | 5 | |
April 24, 2024[lower-alpha 19] | 212 | 429 | 6 | |
May 6, 2024[lower-alpha 16] | 213 | 430 | 5 | |
June 3, 2024[lower-alpha 14] | 218 | 431 | 4 | |
June 25, 2024[lower-alpha 15] | 219 | 432 | 3 | |
July 8, 2024[lower-alpha 17] | 220 | 433 | 2 | |
July 19, 2024[lower-alpha 20] | 212 | 432 | 3 | |
August 21, 2024[lower-alpha 21] | 211 | 431 | 4 | |
Current voting share | 49.0% | 51.0% | ||
Non-voting members | 3 | 3[lower-alpha 22] | 6 | 0 |
Note: Democrats refer to themselves as a "caucus"; Republicans refer to themselves as a "conference".
The numbers refer to their Senate classes. All class 3 seats were contested in the November 2022 elections. In this Congress, class 3 means their term commenced in 2023, requiring re-election in 2028; class 1 means their term ends with this Congress, requiring re-election in 2024; and class 2 means their term began in the last Congress, requiring re-election in 2026.
All 435 seats were filled by election in November 2022. Additionally, six non-voting members were elected from the American territories and Washington, D.C.[lower-alpha 26]
The numbers refer to the congressional district of the given state in this Congress. Eight new congressional districts were created or re-created, while eight others were eliminated, as a result of the 2020 United States census.[lower-alpha 27][lower-alpha 28]
State (class) |
Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation[lower-alpha 29] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nebraska (2) |
Ben Sasse (R) |
Incumbent resigned January 8, 2023, to become the president of the University of Florida.[45] Successor was appointed January 12, 2023, to continue the term.[62][lower-alpha 30] |
Pete Ricketts (R) |
January 23, 2023 |
California (1) |
Dianne Feinstein (D) |
Incumbent died September 29, 2023.[46] Successor was appointed October 1, 2023, to continue the term.[64] |
Laphonza Butler (D) |
October 3, 2023 |
West Virginia (1) |
Joe Manchin (D) |
Incumbent changed party May 31, 2024.[37] | Joe Manchin (I) |
May 31, 2024 |
New Jersey (1) |
Bob Menendez (D) |
Incumbent resigned August 20, 2024, due to criminal conviction.[65] Successor was appointed August 16, 2024, to finish the term ending with this Congress.[66] |
George Helmy (D) |
September 9, 2024 |
New Jersey (1) |
George Helmy (D) |
Incumbent to resign on or around November 27, 2024, to give successor seniority advantages.[66] Successor will be appointed having already been elected to the next term. |
TBD | |
California (1) |
Laphonza Butler (D) |
Appointment to expire in late 2024, following a special election.[67] Successor will be elected November 5, 2024, to finish the term ending with this Congress.[68] |
TBD |
District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation[lower-alpha 29] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Virginia 4 | Vacant | Incumbent Donald McEachin (D) died November 28, 2022, before the beginning of this Congress. A special election was held on February 21, 2023.[69] |
Jennifer McClellan (D) |
March 7, 2023 |
Rhode Island 1 | David Cicilline (D) |
Incumbent resigned May 31, 2023, to become CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. A special election was held on November 7, 2023.[52] |
Gabe Amo (D) |
November 13, 2023 |
Utah 2 | Chris Stewart (R) |
Incumbent resigned September 15, 2023, due to his wife's health issues. A special election was held on November 21, 2023.[54] |
Celeste Maloy (R) |
November 28, 2023 |
New York 3 | George Santos (R) |
Incumbent expelled December 1, 2023.[70] A special election was held on February 13, 2024. |
Tom Suozzi (D) |
February 28, 2024 |
California 20 | Kevin McCarthy (R) |
Incumbent resigned December 31, 2023.[71] A special election was held on May 21, 2024. |
Vince Fong (R) |
June 3, 2024 |
Ohio 6 | Bill Johnson (R) |
Incumbent resigned January 21, 2024, to become president of Youngstown State University.[72][73] A special election was held on June 11, 2024. |
Michael Rulli (R) |
June 25, 2024 |
New York 26 | Brian Higgins (D) |
Incumbent resigned February 2, 2024, to become president of Shea's Performing Arts Center.[74] A special election was held on April 30, 2024.[75] |
Tim Kennedy (D) |
May 6, 2024 |
Colorado 4 | Ken Buck (R) |
Incumbent resigned March 22, 2024.[76] A special election was held on June 25, 2024. |
Greg Lopez (R) |
July 8, 2024 |
Wisconsin 8 | Mike Gallagher (R) |
Incumbent resigned on April 20, 2024.[77] A special election will be held on November 5, 2024.[78] |
TBD | |
New Jersey 10 | Donald Payne Jr. (D) |
Incumbent died on April 24, 2024.[79] A special election will be held on September 18, 2024. |
TBD | |
Texas 18 | Sheila Jackson Lee (D) |
Incumbent died on July 19, 2024.[80] A special election will be held on November 5, 2024. |
TBD | |
New Jersey 9 | Bill Pascrell (D) |
Incumbent died on August 21, 2024.[81] | TBD |
Section contents: Senate, House, Joint
Committee | Chair | Ranking Member/Vice Chair |
---|---|---|
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry | Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) | John Boozman (R-AR) |
Appropriations | Patty Murray (D-WA) | Susan Collins (R-ME) |
Armed Services | Jack Reed (D-RI) | Roger Wicker (R-MS) |
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs | Sherrod Brown (D-OH) | Tim Scott (R-SC) |
Budget | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | Chuck Grassley (R-IA) |
Commerce, Science and Transportation | Maria Cantwell (D-WA) | Ted Cruz (R-TX) |
Energy and Natural Resources | Joe Manchin (I-WV) (Democrat until May 31, 2024) | John Barrasso (R-WY) |
Environment and Public Works | Tom Carper (D-DE) | Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) |
Finance | Ron Wyden (D-OR) | Mike Crapo (R-ID) |
Foreign Relations | Bob Menendez (D-NJ) until September 22, 2023 Ben Cardin (D-MD) from September 25, 2023 |
Jim Risch (R-ID) |
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions | Bernie Sanders (I-VT) | Bill Cassidy (R-LA) |
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | Gary Peters (D-MI) | Rand Paul (R-KY) |
Judiciary | Dick Durbin (D-IL) | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) |
Rules and Administration | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | Deb Fischer (R-NE) |
Small Business and Entrepreneurship | Ben Cardin (D-MD) until September 25, 2023 Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) from September 27, 2023 |
Joni Ernst (R-IA) |
Veterans' Affairs | Jon Tester (D-MT) | Jerry Moran (R-KS) |
Committee | Chair | Ranking Member/Vice Chair |
---|---|---|
Aging (Special) | Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) | Mike Braun (R-IN) |
Ethics (Select) | Chris Coons (D-DE) | James Lankford (R-OK) |
Indian Affairs (Permanent Select) | Brian Schatz (D-HI) | Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) |
Intelligence (Select) | Mark Warner (D-VA) | Marco Rubio (R-FL) |
International Narcotics Control (Permanent Caucus) | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | Chuck Grassley (R-IA) |
Committee | Chair | Ranking Member |
---|---|---|
Agriculture | Glenn Thompson (R-PA) | David Scott (D-GA) |
Appropriations | Kay Granger (R-TX) until April 10, 2024 Tom Cole (R-OK) from April 10, 2024 |
Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) |
Armed Services | Mike Rogers (R-AL) | Adam Smith (D-WA) |
Budget | Jodey Arrington (R-TX) | Brendan Boyle (D-PA) |
Education and the Workforce | Virginia Foxx (R-NC) | Bobby Scott (D-VA) |
Energy and Commerce | Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) | Frank Pallone (D-NJ) |
Ethics | Michael Guest (R-MS) | Susan Wild (D-PA) |
Financial Services | Patrick McHenry (R-NC) | Maxine Waters (D-CA) |
Foreign Affairs | Michael McCaul (R-TX) | Gregory Meeks (D-NY) |
Homeland Security | Mark Green (R-TN) | Bennie Thompson (D-MS) |
House Administration | Bryan Steil (R-WI) | Joe Morelle (D-NY) |
Intelligence (Permanent Select) | Mike Turner (R-OH) | Jim Himes (D-CT) |
Judiciary | Jim Jordan (R-OH) | Jerry Nadler (D-NY) |
Natural Resources | Bruce Westerman (R-AR) | Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) |
Oversight and Reform | James Comer (R-KY) | Jamie Raskin (D-MD) |
Rules | Tom Cole (R-OK) until April 10, 2024 Michael C. Burgess (R-TX) from April 10, 2024 |
Jim McGovern (D-MA) |
Science, Space and Technology | Frank Lucas (R- OK) | Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) |
Small Business | Roger Williams (R-TX) | Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) |
Transportation and Infrastructure | Sam Graves (R-MO) | Rick Larsen (D-WA) |
Veterans' Affairs | Mike Bost (R-IL) | Mark Takano (D-CA) |
Ways and Means | Jason Smith (R-MO) | Richard Neal (D-MA) |
Committee | Chair | Vice Chair | Ranking Member | Vice Ranking Member |
---|---|---|---|---|
Economic | Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) | Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) | Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) | Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) |
Library | Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) | Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) | Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) |
Printing | Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) | Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) | Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) |
Taxation[lower-alpha 31] | Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) | Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) | Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) | Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) |
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