United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
The Committee on Armed Services is a committee of the United States Senate responsible for parliamentary oversight of the US Department of Defense , military research and development, nuclear energy (insofar as it relates to US security), possible conscription, and other military matters The United States is competent to act.
The committee was created as a result of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 after the US victory in World War II . It combines the responsibilities of the former Senate Naval Affairs Committee (which was specifically intended for the Navy ) and the Senate Military Affairs Committee , both of which were established in 1816.
It is considered one of the more powerful committees of the second chamber of the US Congress and, especially during the Cold War, passed far-reaching laws such as the National Security Act of 1947.
Members of the 114th Congress
From January 2015 until his death in August 2018, the committee was chaired by the Republican John McCain from Arizona , and Ranking Minority Member is the Democrat Jack Reed from Rhode Island . James Inhofe (* 1934) is to be McCain's successor.
republican
Democrats
Surname | Country |
Jack Reed ( Ranking Minority Member ) | Rhode Island |
Bill Nelson | Florida |
Claire McCaskill | Missouri |
Joe Manchin | West Virginia |
Jeanne Shaheen | New Hampshire |
Kirsten Gillibrand | new York |
Richard Blumenthal | Connecticut |
Joe Donnelly | Indiana |
Mazie Hirono | Hawaii |
Tim Kaine | Virginia |
Angus King (independent) | Maine |
Martin Heinrich | New Mexico |
Subcommittees
The committee has six subcommittees, each currently led by a Republican. None of them may be the chairman of the full committee. In addition, each subcommittee has a democratic opposition leader.
Subcommittee on Airland
The committee is responsible for all matters relating to the Army , Air Force , Navy and Marine Corps . This excludes strategic issues relating to the armed forces and air transport, as well as extraordinary operations. The committee also oversees the National Guard and the Army and Air Force reserve forces . Chairman is Tom Cotton (R-AR), opposition leader Joe Manchin (R-MS).
Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Established in 1999, the committee focuses on emerging threats such as terrorism , weapons of mass destruction , illegal drugs, and other threats. The chair is Deb Fischer (R-NE), opposition leader Bill Nelson [obsolete] (D-FL).
Subcommittee on Personnel
The committee deals with the staff, both active and reserve. This includes payments, training, and military justice . Chairman is Lindsey Graham (R-SC), opposition leader Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
The committee deals with military readiness, logistics , environmental issues , the business operations of the US military , its financial assets, building maintenance and construction, as well as the closure of military bases, the US military's retirement homes, depots and shipyards. The chairman is Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), opposition leader Tim Kaine (D-VA).
Subcommittee on Seapower
The committee is responsible for the Marine Corps, Navy and their reserve forces. The chairman is Roger Wicker (R-MS), opposition leader Mazie Hirono (D-HI).
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
The committee deals with armed forces, nuclear weapons , national defense and nuclear deterrence , space programs and missile defense . Chairman is Jeff Sessions (R-AL), opposition leader Joe Donnelly (D-IN).
Former Chair
Chair of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, 1816–1947
- John Williams ( DR -TN) 1816-1817
- George Troup (DR-GA) 1817-1818
- John Williams (DR-TN) 1818-1823
- Andrew Jackson (DR-TN) 1823-1825
- William Henry Harrison ( NR- OH) 1825-1828
- Thomas Hart Benton (D-MO) 1828-1841
- William C. Preston ( W -SC) 1841-1842
- John J. Crittenden (W-KY) 1842-1845
- Thomas Hart Benton (D-MO) 1845-1849
- Jefferson Davis (D-MS) 1849-1851
- James Shields (D-IL) 1851-1855
- John B. Weller (D-CA) 1855-1857
- Jefferson Finis Davis (D-MS) 1857-1861
- Henry Wilson (R-MA) 1861-1872
- John A. Logan (R-IL) 1872-1877
- George E. Spencer (R-AL) 1877-1879
- Theodore Fitz Randolph (D-NJ) 1879-1881
- John Alexander Logan (R-IL) 1881-1886
- Joseph Roswell Hawley (R-CT) 1887-1893
- Edward C. Walthall (D-MS) 1893-1895
- Joseph Roswell Hawley (R-CT) 1894-1905
- Francis E. Warren (R-WY) 1905-1911
- Henry A. du Pont (R-DE) 1911-1913
- Joseph F. Johnston (D-AL) 1913
- George Earle Chamberlain (D-OR) 1913-1919
- James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr. (R-NY) 1919-1927
- David A. Reed (R-PA) 1927-1933
- Morris Sheppard (D-TX) 1933-1941
- Robert Rice Reynolds (D-NC) 1941-1945
- Elbert D. Thomas (D-UT) 1945-1947
- Charles Tait (R-GA) 1816-1818
- Nathan Sanford (R-NY) 1818-1819
- James Pleasants (R-VA) 1819-1823
- James Lloyd ( F- MA) 1823-1825
- Robert Young Hayne (D-SC) 1825-1832
- George M. Dallas (D-PA) 1832-1833
- Samuel L. Southard (W-NJ) 1833-1836
- William Cabell Rives (D-VA) 1836-1839
- Reuel Williams (D-ME) 1839-1841
- Willie Person Mangum (W-NC) 1841-1842
- Richard H. Bayard (W-DE) 1842-1845
- John Fairfield (D-ME) 1845-1847
- David Levy Yulee (D-FL) 1847-1851
- William M. Gwin (D-CA) 1851-1855
- Stephen Russell Mallory Sr. (D-FL) 1855-1861
- John P. Hale (R-NH) 1861-1864
- James W. Grimes (R-IA) 1864-1870
- Aaron H. Cragin (R-NH) 1870-1877
- Aaron Augustus Sargent (R-CA) 1877-1879
- John R. McPherson (D-NJ) 1879-1881
- James Donald Cameron (R-PA) 1881-1893
- John R. McPherson (D-NJ) 1893-1895
- James Donald Cameron (R-PA) 1895-1897
- Eugene Hale (R-ME) 1897-1909
- George Clement Perkins (R-CA) 1909-1913
- Benjamin Tillman (D-SC) 1913-1918
- Claude A. Swanson (D-VA) 1918-1919
- Carroll Smalley Page (R-VT) 1919-1923
- Frederick Hale (R-ME) 1923-1933
- Park Trammell (D-FL) 1933-1937
- David I. Walsh (D-MA) 1937-1947
Chair of the Senate Committee on Armed Services since 1947
- John Chandler Gurney (R-SD) 1947-1949
- Millard Tydings (D-MD) 1949-1951
- Richard Russell (D-GA) 1951-1953
- Leverett Saltonstall (R-MA) 1953-1955
- Richard Russell (D-GA) 1955-1969
- John C. Stennis (D-MS) 1969-1981
- John Tower (R-TX) 1981-1985
- Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) 1985-1987
- Sam Nunn (D-GA) 1987-1995
- Strom Thurmond (R-SC) 1995-1999
- John Warner (R-VA) 1999-2001
- Carl Levin (D-MI) 2001
- John Warner (R-VA) 2001
- Carl Levin (D-MI) 2001-2003
- John Warner (R-VA) 2003-2007
- Carl Levin (D-MI) 2007-2014
- John McCain (R-AZ) 2015-2018
Web links
- Senate Armed Services Committee
- Department of Defense
- Armed Forces Retirement Home
- Selected Service System