United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

The United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) generally considers these major social policy issues. Its jurisdiction also extends beyond these issues to include several more specific areas, as defined by Senate rules.

History While it is currently known as the HELP Committee, the committee was originally founded on January 28, 1869, as the Committee on Education. Its name was changed to the Committee on Education and Labor on February 14, 1870, when petitions relating to labor were added to its jurisdiction from the Committee on Naval Affairs.

The committee's jurisdiction at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries focused largely on issues relating to federal employees’ working conditions and federal education aid. Prominent action considered by the committee in the 1910s and 1920s included the creation of a national minimum wage, the establishments of a Department of Labor, a Department of Education, and a Children's Bureau. During the 1930s, the committee took action on the National Labor Relations Act, the Walsh–Healey Public Contracts Act of 1936 and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

In 1944, the jurisdiction of the Public Health Service was transferred from the Commerce Committee to the Committee on Education and Labor, adding issues relating to public health matters to its jurisdiction. The committee's name was changed during the 80th Congress to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare as part of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (Public Law 79-601). The act further expanded the committee's oversight to include the rehabilitation, health, and education of veterans. Mine safety was also added to the committee's jurisdiction in 1949.

During the Administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson, the committee took the lead in shaping legislation as part of Johnson's War on Poverty, resulting in the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Through the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-510), certain issues pertaining to veterans were transferred to the newly created Committee on Veterans Affairs. In the 95th Congress, the Senate passed S. Res. 4, which renamed the committee to be the Committee on Human Resources. However, the name was again changed in the 96th Congress by S. Res. 30 to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources. On March 18, 1992, the committee's jurisdiction was updated to include all of the areas listed below. The committee was given its current name, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, on January 19, 1999, by S. Res. 20.

On July 25, 2024, the committee voted 16–4 to issue its first-ever subpoena, compelling the testimony of Steward Health Care's CEO Ralph de la Torre in relation to accusations of mismanagement of the health system.

Jurisdictional areas Under the Rule 25 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following subject matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee: Measures relating to education, labor, health, and public welfare Aging Agricultural colleges Arts and humanities Biomedical research and development Child labor Convict labor and the entry of goods made by convicts into interstate commerce Domestic activities of the American Red Cross Equal employment opportunity Gallaudet University, Howard University, and St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C. Individuals with disabilities Labor standards and labor statistics Mediation and arbitration of labor disputes Occupational Safety and Health Administration, including the welfare of miners. Mine Safety and Health Administration Private pension plans Public health Railway labor and retirement Regulation of foreign laborers Student loans Wages and hours of labor, including the federal minimum wage

Members, 119th Congress

Majority, (119th Congress)Minority (119th Congress)Bill Cassidy, Louisiana, Chair Rand Paul, Kentucky Susan Collins, Maine Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Roger Marshall, Kansas Tim Scott, South Carolina Josh Hawley, Missouri Tommy Tuberville, Alabama Jim Banks, Indiana Jon Husted, Ohio Ashley Moody, Florida Alan Armstrong, OklahomaBernie Sanders, VermontBernie Sanders is an Independent, but caucuses with Democrats on the committee. Ranking Member Patty Murray, Washington Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Chris Murphy, Connecticut Tim Kaine, Virginia Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire John Hickenlooper, Colorado Ed Markey, Massachusetts Andy Kim, New Jersey Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland

Subcommittees SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberEducation and the American FamilyTommy Tuberville (R-AL)Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)Employment and Workplace SafetyMarkwayne Mullin (R-OK) (until March 23, 2026)Jim Banks (R-IN) (from April 22, 2026)John Hickenlooper (D-CO)Primary Health and Retirement SecurityRoger Marshall (R-KS)Ed Markey (D-MA)

Historical members 110th Congress MajorityMinorityTed Kennedy, Massachusetts, Chair Chris Dodd, Connecticut, Vice Chair Tom Harkin, Iowa Barbara Mikulski, Maryland Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Patty Murray, Washington Jack Reed, Rhode Island Hillary Clinton, New York Bernie Sanders, Vermont Sherrod Brown, Ohio Barack Obama, Illinois, until November 16, 2008Mike Enzi, Wyoming, Ranking Member Judd Gregg, New Hampshire Lamar Alexander, Tennessee Richard Burr, North Carolina Johnny Isakson, Georgia Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Orrin Hatch, Utah Pat Roberts, Kansas Wayne Allard, Colorado Tom Coburn, Oklahoma

SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberSubcommittee on Children and FamiliesChris Dodd (D-CT)Lamar Alexander (R-TN)Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace SafetyPatty Murray (D-WA)Johnny Isakson (R-GA)Subcommittee on Retirement and AgingBarbara Mikulski (D-MD)Richard Burr (R-NC)

111th Congress The Committee was chaired by Democrat Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts until his death on August 25, 2009. Under seniority rules, Acting Chair Christopher Dodd was next in line, but Dodd chose instead to remain chair of the Senate Banking Committee. Tom Harkin, next in line by seniority, assumed the chair on September 9, 2009, vacating his post as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Republican Mike Enzi of Wyoming continued to serve as Ranking Member.

MajorityMinorityTed Kennedy, Massachusetts, Chair until June 9, 2009 Tom Harkin, Iowa, Chair from September 9, 2009 Chris Dodd, Connecticut, Acting Chair from June 9, 2009 – September 9, 2009 Barbara Mikulski, Maryland Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Patty Murray, Washington Jack Reed, Rhode Island Bernie Sanders, Vermont Bob Casey, Pennsylvania Kay Hagan, North Carolina Jeff Merkley, Oregon Al Franken, Minnesota, from June 7, 2009 Michael Bennet, Colorado Carte Goodwin, West Virginia, July 2010 – November 2010 Joe Manchin, West Virginia, from November 2010Mike Enzi, Wyoming, Ranking Member Judd Gregg, New Hampshire Lamar Alexander, Tennessee Richard Burr, North Carolina Johnny Isakson, Georgia John McCain, Arizona Orrin Hatch, Utah Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Pat Roberts, Kansas

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112th Congress

MajorityMinorityTom Harkin, Iowa, Chair Barbara Mikulski, Maryland Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Patty Murray, Washington Bernie Sanders, Vermont Bob Casey Jr., Pennsylvania Kay Hagan, North Carolina Jeff Merkley, Oregon Al Franken, Minnesota Michael Bennet, Colorado Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Richard Blumenthal, ConnecticutMike Enzi, Wyoming, Ranking Member Lamar Alexander, Tennessee Richard Burr, North Carolina Johnny Isakson, Georgia Rand Paul, Kentucky Orrin Hatch, Utah John McCain, Arizona Pat Roberts, Kansas Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Mark Kirk, Illinois

Source:

SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberSubcommittee on Children and FamiliesBarbara Mikulski (D-MD)Richard Burr (R-NC)Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace SafetyPatty Murray (D-WA)Johnny Isakson (R-GA)Subcommittee on Primary Health and AgingBernie Sanders (I-VT)Rand Paul (R-KY)

113th Congress

MajorityMinorityTom Harkin, Iowa, Chair Barbara Mikulski, Maryland Patty Murray, Washington Bernie Sanders, Vermont Bob Casey Jr., Pennsylvania Kay Hagan, North Carolina Al Franken, Minnesota Michael Bennet, Colorado Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Chris Murphy, Connecticut Elizabeth Warren, MassachusettsLamar Alexander, Tennessee, Ranking member Mike Enzi, Wyoming Richard Burr, North Carolina Johnny Isakson, Georgia Rand Paul, Kentucky Orrin Hatch, Utah Pat Roberts, Kansas Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Mark Kirk, Illinois Tim Scott, South Carolina

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SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberChildren and FamiliesKay Hagan (D-NC)Michael Enzi (R-WY)Employment and Workplace SafetyBob Casey (D-PA)Johnny Isakson (R-GA)Primary Health and AgingBernie Sanders (I-VT)Richard Burr (R-NC)

114th Congress

MajorityMinorityLamar Alexander, Tennessee, Chair Mike Enzi, Wyoming Richard Burr, North Carolina Johnny Isakson, Georgia Rand Paul, Kentucky Susan Collins, Maine Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Mark Kirk, Illinois Tim Scott, South Carolina Orrin Hatch, Utah Pat Roberts, Kansas Bill Cassidy, LouisianaPatty Murray, Washington, Ranking Member Barbara Mikulski, Maryland Bernie Sanders, Vermont Bob Casey Jr., Pennsylvania Al Franken, Minnesota Michael Bennet, Colorado Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Chris Murphy, Connecticut Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts

Source

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SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberChildren and FamiliesRand Paul (R-KY)Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)Employment and Workplace SafetyJohnny Isakson (R-GA)Al Franken (D-MN)Primary Health and Retirement SecurityMike Enzi (R-WY)Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

115th Congress

MajorityMinorityLamar Alexander, Tennessee, Chair Mike Enzi, Wyoming Richard Burr, North Carolina Johnny Isakson, Georgia Rand Paul, Kentucky Susan Collins, Maine Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Todd Young, Indiana Orrin Hatch, Utah Pat Roberts, Kansas Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Tim Scott, South CarolinaPatty Murray, Washington, Ranking Member Bernie Sanders, Vermont Bob Casey Jr., Pennsylvania Michael Bennet, Colorado Al Franken, Minnesota (until January 2, 2018) Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Chris Murphy, Connecticut Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Tim Kaine, Virginia Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire Tina Smith, Minnesota (from January 3, 2018) Doug Jones, Alabama (from January 3, 2018)

116th Congress

MajorityMinorityLamar Alexander, Tennessee, Chair Mike Enzi, Wyoming Richard Burr, North Carolina Johnny Isakson, Georgia Rand Paul, Kentucky Susan Collins, Maine Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Pat Roberts, Kansas Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Tim Scott, South Carolina Mitt Romney, Utah Mike Braun, Indiana Kelly Loeffler, Georgia Patty Murray, Washington, Ranking Member Bernie Sanders, Vermont Bob Casey Jr., Pennsylvania Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Chris Murphy, Connecticut Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Tim Kaine, Virginia Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire Tina Smith, Minnesota Doug Jones, Alabama Jacky Rosen, Nevada

SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberChildren and FamiliesRand Paul (R-KY)Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)Employment and Workplace SafetyTim Scott (R-SC)Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)Primary Health and Retirement SecurityMike Enzi (R-WY)Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

117th Congress

MajorityMinorityPatty Murray, Washington, Chair Bernie Sanders, Vermont Bob Casey Jr., Pennsylvania Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Chris Murphy, Connecticut Tim Kaine, Virginia Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire Tina Smith, Minnesota Jacky Rosen, Nevada Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico John Hickenlooper, ColoradoRichard Burr, North Carolina, Ranking Member Rand Paul, Kentucky Susan Collins, Maine Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Tim Scott, South Carolina Mitt Romney, Utah Mike Braun, Indiana Roger Marshall, Kansas Tommy Tuberville, Alabama Jerry Moran, Kansas

United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

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