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8A FEDERAL UPDATE from page 14 . . .. . . ... .. .. . .. ... . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . ... .F~age 15 Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) will likely become the ranking member. In assuming the chairmanship, Sen. Kennedy will chart the course for the committee's review of the 2001 education Jaw known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Sen. Kennedy was instrumental in forging an agreement with congressional Republicans and the White House to gain passage of the law, and will certainly be a central figure in drafting its reauthorization. Sen. Kennedy has also been a consistent advocate for increasing the federal minimum wage, and is expected to renew his campaign to increase the current wage to $7.25 per hour over two years. The incoming chairman has also expressed an interest in increasing access to affordable healthcare for all Americans. and is expected to revisit the committee's efforts to reauthorize the Ryan White Care Act next session. New to the committee in 2007 will be Illinois Democratic Sen. Barak Obama and newly elected $ens. Bernie Sanders (I.Vt.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). Homeland Security and Government Affairs. Despite Ranking Member Joseph Lieberman's (I-Conn.) campaign departure from the Democratic party, he is expected to retain his seniority in the group and assume the chairman- ship of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in the next Congress. Current Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-Maine) will remain in the top spot for the Republican position, assuming the role of Ranking Member. Sen. Lieberman is expected to conduct vigorous oversight of the sprawling Homeland Security Department. The senator was a driving force behind the creation of the Department in 2002 (PL 107-296) and has repeatedly expressed frustration by its many operational issues. While the chamber's House companion, the House Homeland Security Committee, may revisit the funding formula for homeland security grant programs, Sens. Lieberman and Collins are unlikely to favorably entertain any changes to the current formula. Both senators serve srnall states that benefit from the current formula. Leaving the committee in the 110th Congress will be retiring Sen. Mafi{ Dayton (D-Minn.) and Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.). who was defeated in his reelection bid. Newly elected Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) will join the panel in January. Judiciary. Current Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chair- man Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) will switch titles in January. As committee chairman, Sen. Leahy is expected to conduct much more rigorous over- sight of President Bush's counterterrorism tactics and lead the effort to reject any controversial VVhite House-recommended judicial nominees. However, Sens. Leahy and Specter are likely to find common ground with the Administration in crafting comprehensive immigration reform legislation, should the current Congress fail to adopt such a measure in the post-election ses- sion. The incoming chairman and ranking mem- ber are also expected to move a bipartisan anti- gang measure in the next Congress. With the elections resolved, it is unclear whether or not the issue of eminent domain will attract enough support to receive committee consideration in the new Congress. No such legislation is expected to move in the post-election session. Newly elected Democrats Ben Cardin (Md.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) will join the committee In January, while Ohio Republican Sen. Mike DeWine, who was defeated in his reelection bid, will not return. Rules and Administration. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is expected to chair the Rules and Administration Committee in the 110th Con- gress, with Mississippi Repubtican Trent Lott serving as the committee's ranking member. Sen. Feinstein has expressed interest in taking up a rules change that would require disclosure of Continued on Page 16 Visit the League's Official Website--www.caclties.org PRIORITY FOCUS. PAGE 15 December 1, 2006 . Issue #46