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FEDERAL UPDATE from page 11 8A Page 12 ....................................... look more closely at renewable energy technology derived from the use of those sources. The committee's current chairman, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), will likely become the panel's ranking member in the 110th Congress. Newly elected Sensa Bob Casey (O-PA) and Amy Klobuchar (D.Minn.) will also join the panel. Appropriations. Current Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Robert Byrd (0- W.Va.) will regain his chairmanship of the commit- tee In the 110th Congress, and current Chairman Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) is expected to become the panel's ranking member. Sen. Byrd is expected to take a greater inter- est in increasing funding for federal domestic programs such as healthcare, education and homeland security. However, it is unlikely that that the incoming chairman will be able to significantly raise spending levels for these domestic priorities given the budget constraints imposed by the ongoing mltitary campaigns in Iraq and Afghani- stan. Two Republican committee members, Mike De'Mne (R-Ohio) and Conrad Bums (R-Mont.), were defeated in the elections and it is likely that they will not be replaced. Instead, new Democrats Jack Reed (R.I.), Frank Lautenberg (N.J.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.) Will be added to the panel. Most of the Democrats serving as ranking members on the panel's subcommittees are expected to become subcommittee chairs in the 110th Con- gress, which may elevate California Sen. Dianne Feinstein to chair of either Interior and Related Agencies or the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Subcom- mittee in January. Sen. Feinstein will likely continue to serve on the Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies; Defense; Energy and Water and Re- lated Agencies; Homeland Security; and Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommit- tees in the coming session. Transitloning from ranking member to sub- committee chair on the remaining panefs will likely be Herbert Kohl (O-Wis.) to Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies; Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) to Commerce, Justice and Science; Daniel Inouye (O-Hawaii) to Defense; Mary Landrieu (D-La.) to District of Columbia; either Robert Byrd (O-W.Va.) or Patty Murray (0- Wash.) to Energy and Water and Related Ageo. cles; either Robert Byrd (O-W.Va.), Daniel Inouye (O-Hawaii) or Patrick Leahy (O-Vt.) to Homeland Security; Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) to Interior and Related Agencies; Tom Harkin (O-Iowa) to Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies; Richard Durbin (0-111.) or Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) to Legislative Branch; Patrick Leahy (O-Vt.) to State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Patty Murray (O.Wash.) to Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary and Hous. ing and Urban Development, and Related Ageo. cies. Anned Services. Current Committee Rank- ing Member Carl Levin (O-Mich.) will likely become the new chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, with Arizona senator and 2008 presi- dential hopeful John McCain assuming the duties of ranking member. As committee chairman, Sen. Levin will continue to be critical of the Presidenfs strategy in Iraq, procurement practices and troop levels. Sen. Levin voted against the 2002 resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq (PL 107-243) I warning that it constituted a blank CheCk approval of unilateral operation. He has also charged that the Administration manipulated intelligence about Iraq to justify the war. Although Sen. Levin remains a war critic, he has not advocated for Immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq. Instead the senator has advocated that the U.S. should begin withdrawing its troops to pressure Iraqis to take on their own defense, though he has not endorsed a deadline for finishing that job. Continued on Page 13 PAGE 12 . PRIORITY FOCUS Dtcember 11 2006 . Issue t.4e Visit the League's Official Webslte-www.cacitles.org