United States House Committee on Ways and Means
Encyclopedia
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committees unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership. The Committee has jurisdiction over all taxation
Taxation in the United States
The United States is a federal republic with autonomous state and local governments. Taxes are imposed in the United States at each of these levels. These include taxes on income, property, sales, imports, payroll, estates and gifts, as well as various fees.Taxes are imposed on net income of...
, tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
s and other revenue-raising measures, as well as a number of other programs including:
- Social SecuritySocial Security (United States)In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
- Unemployment benefitUnemployment benefitUnemployment benefits are payments made by the state or other authorized bodies to unemployed people. Benefits may be based on a compulsory para-governmental insurance system...
s - MedicareMedicare (United States)Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
- Enforcement of child supportChild supportIn family law and public policy, child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship...
laws - Temporary Assistance for Needy FamiliesTemporary Assistance for Needy FamiliesTemporary Assistance for Needy Families is one of the United States of America's federal assistance programs. It began on July 2, 1997, and succeeded the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, providing cash assistance to indigent American families with dependent children through the...
, a federal welfare program - Foster careFoster careFoster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
and adoptionAdoptionAdoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
programs
The U.S. Constitution requires that all bills regarding taxation must originate in the House of Representatives. Since House procedure is that all bills regarding taxation must go through this committee, the committee is very influential, as is its Senate counterpart, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance
United States Senate Committee on Finance
The U.S. Senate Committee on Finance is a standing committee of the United States Senate. The Committee concerns itself with matters relating to taxation and other revenue measures generally, and those relating to the insular possessions; bonded debt of the United States; customs, collection...
.
The Ways and Means Committee in the 111th Congress was chaired by Charlie Rangel, who had taken a leave of absence as chairman until House ethics violations were resolved. However, his leave of absence as chairman was ruled to be a resignation. Pete Stark
Pete Stark
Fortney Hillman "Pete" Stark, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Currently he is the 5th most senior Representative, as well as 6th most senior member of Congress overall...
resigned as acting chairman, so Sander Levin held that position until the start of the 112th Congress. Dave Camp became the committee chair for the 112th Congress, after the Republicans won control of the House in the 2010 election.
History
The idea of a "Committee of Ways and MeansCommittee of Ways and Means
The Committee of Ways and Means is a government body that is charged with reviewing and making recommendations for government budgets. The term "Ways and Means" originated with the English Parliament and refers to the provision of revenue to meet national expenditure requirements and to forward...
" to handle the financial matters of a legislature is an old one, 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, and first appeared among the list of regular standing committees on January 7, 1802. Upon its original creation, it held power over both taxes and spending, until the spending power was given to the new Appropriations Committee
United States House Committee on Appropriations
The Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
in 1865.
Three future presidents - James Polk, Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
, and William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
- served as Committee Chairman. Before the official roles of floor leader
Floor Leader
Floor Leaders are leaders of their political parties in each of the houses of the legislature.- Senate :In the United States Senate, they are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and...
came about in the late 19th century, the Chairman of Ways and Means was considered the Majority Leader. The Chairman is one of very few Representatives to have office space within the Capitol building itself.
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. Some recent major issues that have gone through this committee include welfare reformWelfare reform
Welfare reform refers to the process of reforming the framework of social security and welfare provisions, but what is considered reform is a matter of opinion. The term was used in the United States to support the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act...
, a Medicare prescription drug
Prescription drug
A prescription medication is a licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a medical prescription before it can be obtained. The term is used to distinguish it from over-the-counter drugs which can be obtained without a prescription...
benefit, Social Security reform, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's tax cuts, and trade agreements including the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States 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
Campaign finance
Campaign finance refers to all funds that are raised and spent in order to promote candidates, parties or policies in some sort of electoral contest. In modern democracies such funds are not necessarily devoted to election campaigns. Issue campaigns in referendums, party activities and party...
.
Until 1974, the Ways and Means Committee decided which chairmanships newly elected members of Congress would have, along with its regular financial duties. When Ways and Means chair Wilbur Mills' career ended in scandal, Congressman Phillip Burton
Phillip Burton
Phillip Burton was a United States Representative from California. A Democrat, he was instrumental in creating the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Burton was one of the first members of Congress to acknowledge the need for AIDS research and introduce an AIDS bill. He was the brother of...
transferred the committee's selection powers to a separate, newly created committee.
Members, 112th Congress
The Chairman is Dave CampDavid Lee Camp
David Lee "Dave" Camp is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. He is a member of the Republican Party and the current Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means.-Early life, education and career:...
and the Ranking Member
Ranking member
In United States politics, a ranking member is the second-most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the majority party. Another usage refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This second usage, often...
is Sander Levin, both from Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
Sander M. Levin Sander Martin Levin, generally known as Sandy Levin, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1983, and the ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee... , Michigan, Ranking Member Charles B. Rangel Charles Bernard "Charlie" Rangel is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1971. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the third-longest currently serving member of the House of Representatives. As its most senior member, he is also the Dean of New York's congressional delegation... ¹, New York Pete Stark Fortney Hillman "Pete" Stark, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Currently he is the 5th most senior Representative, as well as 6th most senior member of Congress overall... , California Jim McDermott James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.He serves on the House Ways and Means... , Washington John Lewis (politician) John Robert Lewis is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. He was a leader in the American Civil Rights Movement and chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee , playing a key role in the struggle to end segregation... , Georgia Xavier Becerra Xavier Becerra is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in Los Angeles.-Early life, education and career:... , California Lloyd Doggett Lloyd Alton Doggett II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He previously represented from 1995 to 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party... , Texas Mike Thompson Michael C. Thompson , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties as well as parts of Yolo and Sonoma Counties.... , California Earl Blumenauer Earl Blumenauer is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1996. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Portland east of the Willamette River. A native of Portland, he previously spent over 20 years as a public official representing the city.-Early... , Oregon Ron Kind Ronald James "Ron" Kind is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party. His district is located in the western portion of the state and is anchored by La Crosse and Eau Claire and Platteville.... , Wisconsin Shelley Berkley Rochelle "Shelley" Berkley is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999, and a candidate for U.S. Senate. She is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education, and legal career:... , Nevada Joseph Crowley Joseph Crowley is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is the Chairman of the New Democrat Coalition and the Queens County Democratic Party. He is a member of the Democratic Party.... , New York |
¹ Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) will serve as an ex officio member sitting on all of the subcommittees without voting rights in the 112th Congress.
Source:
- Resolutions electing Republican members
- Resolutions electing Democratic members
Subcommittees
There are six subcommittees in the 112th Congress. The Subcommittee on Income Security and Family SupportUnited States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support
The Subcommittee on Human Resources is a subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means in the United States House of Representatives. From 2007 to 2011, it was known as the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support...
was renamed the Subcommittee on Human Resources, returning to the name it held prior to the 110th Congress.
| Subcommittee | Chair | Ranking Member |
|---|---|---|
| Trade United States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade The House Way and Means Subcommittee on Trade is one of the six subcommittees within the House Ways and Means Committee-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:... |
Kevin Brady Kevin Brady Kevin Patrick Brady is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes a large swath of suburban and rural territory around Houston and Beaumont.... (R-TX) |
Jim McDermott Jim McDermott James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.He serves on the House Ways and Means... (D-WA) |
| Social Security United States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security The Subcommittee on Social Security is a subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:From the House rules... |
Sam Johnson Sam Johnson Samuel Robert "Sam" Johnson is an American politician and a retired career U.S. Air Force officer and fighter pilot. He currently is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the 3rd District of Texas... (R-TX) |
Xavier Becerra Xavier Becerra Xavier Becerra is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in Los Angeles.-Early life, education and career:... (D-CA) |
| Oversight United States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight The House Way and Means Subcommittee on Oversight is one of the six subcommittees within the House Ways and Means Committee-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:... |
Charles Boustany Charles Boustany Charles William Boustany, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and medical career:... (R-LA) |
John Lewis (D-GA) |
| Health United States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health The U.S. House Energy Subcommittee on Health is a subcommittee within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.-Jurisdiction:The House Subcommittee on Health has general jurisdiction over bills and resolutions relating to issues within the scope of the Subcommittee's jurisdiction, and has... |
Wally Herger Wally Herger Walter William "Wally" Herger, Jr. , American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1987, representing the California's 2nd congressional district. The second district is physically large... (R-CA) |
Pete Stark Pete Stark Fortney Hillman "Pete" Stark, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Currently he is the 5th most senior Representative, as well as 6th most senior member of Congress overall... (D-CA) |
| Human Resources | Geoff Davis Geoff Davis Geoffrey C. "Geoff" Davis is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party.... (R-KY) |
Lloyd Doggett Lloyd Doggett Lloyd Alton Doggett II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He previously represented from 1995 to 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party... (D-TX) |
| Select Revenue Measures United States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures The Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measure is a subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:From the House rules:... |
Pat Tiberi Pat Tiberi Patrick Joseph "Pat" Tiberi is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party... (R-OH) |
Richard Neal Richard Neal Richard Edmund Neal is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is a former city councilor and mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts.... (D-MA) |
Chairmen
| # | Chair | Party | State | Start of Service | End of Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Fitzsimons Thomas Fitzsimons Thomas FitzSimons was an American merchant and statesman of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He represented Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and the U.S. Congress.-Biography:... |
Federalist | PA | 1789 | 1789 |
| 2 | William L. Smith William Loughton Smith William Loughton Smith was an American lawyer from Charleston, South Carolina. He represented South Carolina in the U.S. House from 1789 until 1797 and served as the U.S... |
Federalist | SC | 1794 | 1797 |
| 3 | Robert G. Harper | Federalist | SC | 1797 | 1800 |
| 4 | Roger Griswold Roger Griswold Roger Griswold was the 22nd Governor of Connecticut and a member of the US House of Representatives, serving as a Federalist.... |
Federalist | CT | 1800 | 1801 |
| 5 | John Randolph John Randolph of Roanoke John Randolph , known as John Randolph of Roanoke, was a planter and a Congressman from Virginia, serving in the House of Representatives , the Senate , and also as Minister to Russia... |
Democratic-Republican | VA | 1801 | 1805 |
| 6 | Joseph Clay Joseph Clay Joseph Clay was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Joseph Clay was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Congresses, and served until his resignation after March 28, 1808. He was also... |
Democratic-Republican | PA | 1805 | 1807 |
| 7 | George W. Campbell George W. Campbell George Washington Campbell was an American statesman who served as a U.S. Representative, Senator, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice, U.S... |
Democratic-Republican | TN | 1807 | 1809 |
| 8 | John W. Eppes | Democratic-Republican | VA | 1809 | 1811 |
| 9 | Ezekiel Bacon Ezekiel Bacon Ezekiel Bacon was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts and New York.-Life:... |
Democratic-Republican | SC | 1811 | 1812 |
| 10 | Langdon Cheves Langdon Cheves Langdon Cheves was an American politician and a president of the Second Bank of the United States.Cheves was born at Rocky River, South Carolina and died in Columbia, South Carolina. His father, Alexander, was a native of Scotland; his mother, Mary Langdon, was from Virginia... |
Democratic-Republican | SC | 1812 | 1813 |
| 11 | John W. Eppes | Democratic-Republican | VA | 1813 | 1815 |
| 12 | William Lowndes | Democratic-Republican | SC | 1815 | 1818 |
| 13 | Samuel Smith Samuel Smith (Maryland) Samuel Smith was a United States Senator and Representative from Maryland, a mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, and a general in the Maryland militia. He was the brother of cabinet secretary Robert Smith.-Biography:... |
Democratic-Republican | MD | 1818 | 1822 |
| 14 | Louis McLane Louis McLane Louis McLane was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware, and Baltimore, Maryland. He was a veteran of the War of 1812 and a member of the Federalist Party and later the Democratic Party. He served as the U.S. Representative from Delaware, U.S. Senator... |
Democratic-Republican | DE | 1822 | 1827 |
| 15 | John Randolph John Randolph of Roanoke John Randolph , known as John Randolph of Roanoke, was a planter and a Congressman from Virginia, serving in the House of Representatives , the Senate , and also as Minister to Russia... |
Democratic | VA | 1827 | 1827 |
| 16 | George McDuffie George McDuffie George McDuffie was the 55th Governor of South Carolina and a member of the United States Senate.Born of modest means in Columbia County, Georgia, McDuffie's extraordinary intellect was noticed while clerking at a store in Augusta, Georgia... |
Democratic | SC | 1827 | 1832 |
| 17 | Gulian C. Verplanck | Democratic | NY | 1832 | 1833 |
| 18 | James K. Polk James K. Polk James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee... |
Democratic | TN | 1833 | 1835 |
| 19 | Churchill C. Cambreleng Churchill C. Cambreleng Churchill Caldom Cambreleng was an American politician from New York.-Life:... |
Democratic | NY | 1835 | 1839 |
| 20 | John W. Jones John Winston Jones John Winston Jones was an American politician and lawyer.Born 22 November 1791 in Amelia County, Virginia, he graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1813. He practiced law in Chesterfield County, Virginia before being appointed Prosecuting Attorney for Virginia's 5th Judicial Circuit... |
Democratic | VA | 1839 | 1841 |
| 21 | Millard Fillmore Millard Fillmore Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president... |
Whig | NY | 1841 | 1843 |
| 22 | James I. McKay | Democratic | NC | 1843 | 1847 |
| 23 | Samuel F. Vinton Samuel Finley Vinton Samuel Finley Vinton was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio from March 4, 1823 to March 4, 1837 and again from March 4, 1843 to March 4, 1851.... |
Whig | OH | 1847 | 1849 |
| 24 | Thomas H. Bayly Thomas H. Bayly Thomas Henry Bayly was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer and judge from Virginia. He was the son of Thomas M. Bayly.-Biography:... |
Democratic | VA | 1849 | 1851 |
| 25 | George S. Houston George S. Houston George Smith Houston was an American Democratic politician who was the 24th Governor of Alabama from 1874 to 1878.... |
Democratic | AL | 1851 | 1855 |
| 26 | Lewis D. Campbell Lewis D. Campbell Lewis Davis Campbell was a U.S. Representative for Ohio. Over his successful political career he was elected as a Whig, Know-Nothing, Republican and Democrat.-Early life and career:... |
Republican | OH | 1856 | 1857 |
| 27 | J. Glancy Jones | Democratic | PA | 1857 | 1858 |
| 28 | John S. Phelps John S. Phelps John Smith Phelps was a politician, soldier during the American Civil War, and the 23rd Governor of Missouri.-Early life and career:... |
Democratic | MO | 1858 | 1859 |
| 29 | John Sherman John Sherman (politician) John Sherman, nicknamed "The Ohio Icicle" , was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Ohio during the Civil War and into the late nineteenth century. He served as both Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of State and was the principal author of the Sherman Antitrust Act... |
Republican | OH | 1860 | 1861 |
| 30 | Thaddeus Stevens Thaddeus Stevens Thaddeus Stevens , of Pennsylvania, was a Republican leader and one of the most powerful members of the United States House of Representatives... |
Republican | PA | 1861 | 1865 |
| 31 | Justin Morrill | Republican | VT | 1865 | 1867 |
| 32 | Robert C. Schenck Robert C. Schenck Robert Cumming Schenck was a Union Army general in the American Civil War, and American diplomatic representative to Brazil and the United Kingdom. He was at both battles of Bull Run and took part in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862, and the Battle of Cross Keys... |
Republican | OH | 1867 | 1871 |
| 33 | Samuel Hooper Samuel Hooper Samuel Hooper was a businessman and US congressman from Massachusetts, USA.Hooper was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He received a common school education and was employed as an agent for an importing firm and traveled extensively in foreign countries... |
Republican | MA | 1871 | 1871 |
| 34 | Henry L. Dawes Henry L. Dawes Henry Laurens Dawes was a Republican United States Senator and United States Representative, notable for the Dawes Act.-Biography:... |
Republican | MA | 1871 | 1875 |
| 35 | William R. Morrison | Democratic | IL | 1875 | 1877 |
| 36 | Fernando Wood Fernando Wood Fernando Wood was an American politician of the Democratic Party and mayor of New York City; he also served as a United States Representative and as Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means in both the 45th and 46th Congress .A successful shipping merchant who became Grand Sachem of the... |
Democratic | NY | 1877 | 1881 |
| 37 | John R. Tucker | Democratic | VA | 1881 | 1881 |
| 38 | William D. Kelley William D. Kelley William D. Kelley was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Kelley was a lifelong advocate of civil rights, social reform, and labor protection.-Early life:... |
Republican | PA | 1881 | 1883 |
| 39 | William R. Morrison | Democratic | IL | 1883 | 1887 |
| 40 | Roger Q. Mills Roger Q. Mills Roger Quarles Mills was an American politician and an officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Background:... |
Democratic | TX | 1887 | 1889 |
| 41 | William McKinley William McKinley William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s... |
Republican | OH | 1889 | 1891 |
| 42 | William M. Springer | Democratic | IL | 1891 | 1893 |
| 43 | William L. Wilson William Lyne Wilson William Lyne Wilson was a Bourbon Democrat politician and lawyer from West Virginia.-Biography:Born in Charles Town, Virginia , Wilson attended Charles Town Academy, graduated from Columbian College in 1860 and subsequently studied at the University of Virginia... |
Democratic | WV | 1893 | 1895 |
| 44 | Nelson Dingley, Jr. Nelson Dingley, Jr. Nelson Dingley, Jr., also known as Edward Nelson Dingley, Jr., was a journalist and politician from the U.S. state of Maine.... |
Republican | ME | 1895 | 1899 |
| 45 | Sereno E. Payne Sereno E. Payne Sereno Elisha Payne was a United States Representative from New York and the first House Majority Leader, holding the office from 1899 to 1911. He was a Republican Congressman from 1883 to 1887 and then from 1889 to his death in 1914. He was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee for 12... |
Republican | NY | 1899 | 1911 |
| 46 | Oscar W. Underwood | Democratic | AL | 1911 | 1915 |
| 47 | Claude Kitchin Claude Kitchin Claude Kitchin was a U.S. Congressional Representative from North Carolina and floor leader of his party in the House during the 64th, 65th, and 67th Congresses.... |
Democratic | NC | 1915 | 1919 |
| 48 | Joseph Fordney | Republican | MI | 1919 | 1923 |
| 49 | William R. Green William R. Green William Raymond Green was a longtime Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 9th congressional district, and chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, until he resigned to accept appointment as an associate judge on the United States Court of Claims.Born in Colchester,... |
Republican | IA | 1923 | 1928 |
| 50 | Willis C. Hawley Willis C. Hawley Willis Chatman Hawley was an American politician and educator in the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he would serve as president of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, where he earned his undergraduate and law degrees before entering politics... |
Republican | OR | 1928 | 1931 |
| 51 | James W. Collier | Democratic | MS | 1931 | 1933 |
| 52 | Robert L. Doughton Robert L. Doughton Robert Lee "Bob" Doughton , of Alleghany County, North Carolina, sometimes known as "Farmer Bob," was a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina for 42 consecutive years... |
Democratic | NC | 1933 | 1947 |
| 53 | Harold Knutson Harold Knutson Harold Knutson was born in Skien, in Telemark county, Norway. At the age of 6 he and his family moved to the United States initially settling in Chicago, Illinois, but later moving to Sherburne County, Minnesota. He became the editor for the St. Cloud Daily Journal-Press and later president of the... |
Republican | MN | 1947 | 1949 |
| 54 | Robert L. Doughton Robert L. Doughton Robert Lee "Bob" Doughton , of Alleghany County, North Carolina, sometimes known as "Farmer Bob," was a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina for 42 consecutive years... |
Democratic | NC | 1949 | 1953 |
| 55 | Daniel A. Reed Daniel A. Reed -External links:... |
Republican | NY | 1953 | 1955 |
| 56 | Jere Cooper Jere Cooper Jere Cooper was a Democratic United States Representative from Tennessee.-Biography:Cooper was born on a farm near Dyersburg, Dyer County, Tennessee... |
Democratic | TN | 1955 | 1957 |
| 57 | Wilbur Mills Wilbur Mills Wilbur Daigh Mills , was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Arkansas... |
Democratic | AR | 1957 | 1975 |
| Al Ullman Al Ullman Albert Conrad "Al" Ullman , was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represented from 1957 to 1981... (acting) |
Democratic | OR | 1973 | 1975 | |
| 58 | Al Ullman Al Ullman Albert Conrad "Al" Ullman , was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represented from 1957 to 1981... |
Democratic | OR | 1975 | 1981 |
| 59 | Dan Rostenkowski Dan Rostenkowski Daniel David "Dan" Rostenkowski was a United States Representative from Illinois, serving from 1959 to 1995. Raised in a blue-collar neighborhood on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Rostenkowski rose to become one of the most powerful legislators in Washington. He was a member of the Democratic Party... |
Democratic | IL | 1981 | 1994 |
| Sam Gibbons (acting) | Democratic | FL | 1994 | 1995 | |
| 60 | Bill Archer William Reynolds Archer, Jr. William Reynolds “Bill” Archer, Jr. is a former American lawyer and politician. Archer served two terms, from 1967 to 1971, in the Texas House of Representatives — changing from the Democratic to the Republican party in 1969 — and later represented Texas in the United States House as a Republican... |
Republican | TX | 1995 | 2001 |
| 61 | Bill Thomas Bill Thomas William Marshall Thomas , commonly known as Bill Thomas, is an American politician, and a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1979–2007, finishing his tenure representing California's 22nd congressional district and as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means... |
Republican | CA | 2001 | 2007 |
| 62 | Charles Rangel | Democratic | NY | 2007 | 2010 |
| Sander Levin (acting) | Democratic | MI | 2010 | 2011 | |
| 63 | Dave Camp | Republican | MI | 2011 | present |