Despite widespread pre-election predictions of major Democratic gains on Capitol Hill, Republicans came out of Election Day safely in control of their existing House and Senate majorities. As a result, the water policy landscape in Congress is not expected to dramatically change next year.
Republican Sens. Mark Kirk of Illinois and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire were the only senators to lose their reelection bids. Republicans are therefore expected to hold a 52 – 48 majority in the Senate next year, assuming an expected Republican victory in an early-December runoff for Louisiana’s open Senate seat. The Republican majority will allow Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell to keep his post as Senate Majority Leader, while Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York will take over as Minority Leader from the retiring Harry Reid of Nevada.
Pre-election predictions for the House of Representatives suggested Democratic gains of as many as 15 – 20 seats, but this groundswell never materialized. To date Democrats have picked up a net gain of only 6 seats, with two runoff-bound Louisiana seats still undecided. Paul Ryan is set to return as House Speaker when the 115th Congress gets underway next year.
The new congress will bring some changes to congressional committees with jurisdiction over drinking water issues, mainly due to retirements or party rules that limit members’ time with the gavel. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) will take over as chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, replacing the term-limited James Inhofe of Oklahoma. The panel’s current lead Democrat, Barbara Boxer of California, is retiring from the Senate and will be replaced by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.). Subcommittee assignments will be worked out by early next year.
In the House of Representatives, Michigan Republican Fred Upton is term limited out of his chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Oregon’s Greg Walden and Illinois’ John Shimkus (current Environment and the Economy Subcommittee Chairman) are competing to replace him. New Jersey’s Frank Pallone is expected to continue as the full committee’s Ranking Democrat, while New York’s Paul Tonko can keep his seat as the subcommittee’s top Democrat.