The United States Senate Democratic Policy Committee is responsible for the creation of new United States Democratic Party policy proposals, supporting Democratic senators with legislative research, developing reports on legislation and policy, conducting oversight hearings, monitoring roll call votes, differentiating between Democratic and Republican positions, and building party unity.
The committee was established in 1947, by an act signed by President Harry S. Truman, alongside its Republican counterpart. From 1947 to 2000, the Democratic leader was also the policy committee chairman. From 1989 to 1999, there was a co-chairman. Starting in 1999, the co-chairman was dropped and the position of policy committee chairman became a separate position elected by the Senate Democratic Caucus. The floor leader served as committee chair until 1989, when one of the co-chairs remained leader (Mitchell through 1995 and then Daschle until 1999).
List of chairs The committee chairperson is the No. 3 member of the Democratic party leadership of the United States Senate, after the party leader and whip.
Chair of the Policy CommitteeCongressChair(s)Term80thAlben W. Barkley (KY)1947–194981stScott W. Lucas (IL)1949–195182ndErnest McFarland (AZ)1951–195383rdLyndon Johnson (TX)1953–196184th85th86th87thMike Mansfield (MT)1961–197788th89th90th91st92nd93rd94th95thRobert Byrd (WV)1977–198996th97th98th99th100th101stGeorge J. Mitchell (ME)1989–1995102nd103rd104thTom Daschle (SD)1995-1999105th106thByron Dorgan (ND)1999-2011107th108th109th110th111th112thChuck Schumer (NY)2011-2017113th114th115thDebbie Stabenow (MI)2017-2019 Chair of the Policy & Communications CommitteeCongressChair(s)Term116thDebbie Stabenow (MI)2019-2025117th118th Chair of the Steering & Policy CommitteeCongressChair(s)Term119thAmy Klobuchar (MN)2025–present
Vice chairs
Co-Chair of PolicyCongressCo-Chair(s)Term101stTom Daschle (SD)1989-1995102nd103rd104thHarry Reid (NV)1995-1999105thVice Chair of Policy CommitteeCongressVice Chair(s)Term112thDebbie Stabenow (MI)2011–2017113th114th115thJoe Manchin (WV)2017-2019 Vice Chair of Policy & Communications CommitteeCongressVice Chair(s)Term116thJoe Manchin (WV)2019–2021117thJoe Manchin (WV)Cory Booker (NJ)2021–2025118th Vice Chair of Steering & Policy CommitteeCongressVice Chair(s)Term119thJeanne Shaheen (NH)2025–present
Historical Committee Rosters
113th Congress members
Members Senator State Chuck Schumer, Chairman New York Jack Reed, Regional Chair Rhode Island Mary Landrieu, Regional Chair Louisiana Patty Murray, Regional Chair Washington Harry Reid Nevada Dianne Feinstein California Ron Wyden Oregon Tim Johnson South Dakota Bill Nelson Florida Tom Carper Delaware Barbara Mikulski Maryland Sherrod Brown Ohio ex officio Dick Durbin, Democratic Whip Illinois Patty Murray, Assistant Democratic Leader Washington
Notes
References
External links Official Senate Democratic Policy Committee Website