United States House Committee on Ways and Means


The Committee on Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The committee has jurisdiction over all taxation, tariffs, and other revenue-raising measures, as well as a number of other programs including Social Security, unemployment benefits, Medicare, the enforcement of child support laws, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, foster care, and adoption programs. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House committee unless they are granted a waiver from their party's congressional leadership. It has long been regarded as the most prestigious committee of the House of Representatives.
The United States Constitution requires that all bills regarding taxation must originate in the U.S. House of Representatives, and House rules dictate that all bills regarding taxation must pass through Ways and Means. This system imparts upon the committee and its members a significant degree of influence over other representatives, committees, and public policy. Its Senate counterpart is the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.
In the 119th Congress, the committee's chair is Jason T. Smith. Recent chairs have included Bill Thomas, Charlie Rangel, Sander Levin, Dave Camp, Paul Ryan, Kevin Brady, and Richard Neal.
WWW waysandmeans.house.gov𝕏 waysmeanscmteFB waysandmeanscommitteedemsYT waysandmeansdemsIG waysandmeansgop

History

The Ways and Means Committee was first established during the first Congress, in 1789. However, this initial version was disbanded after only 8 weeks; for the next several years, only ad hoc committees were formed, to write up laws on notions already debated in the whole House. It was first established as a standing committee by resolution adopted December 21, 1795, and first appeared among the list of regular standing committees on January 7, 1802. Upon its original creation, it held power over both taxes and spending, until the spending power was given to the new Appropriations Committee in 1865.
During the Civil War the key policy-maker in Congress was Thaddeus Stevens, as chair of the committee and Republican floor leader. He took charge of major legislation that funded the war effort and permanently transformed the nation's economic policies regarding tariffs, bonds, income and excise taxes, national banks, suppression of money issued by state banks, greenback currency, and western railroad land grants. Stevens was one of the major policymakers regarding Reconstruction, and obtained a House vote of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson. Hans L. Trefousse, his leading biographer, concludes that Stevens "was one of the most influential representatives ever to serve in Congress. the House with his wit, knowledge of parliamentary law, and sheer willpower, even though he was often unable to prevail." Historiographical views of Stevens have dramatically shifted over the years, from the early 20th-century view of Stevens and the Radical Republicans as tools of enormous business and motivated by hatred of the white South, to the perspective of the neoabolitionists of the 1950s and afterwards, who applauded their efforts to give equal rights to the freed slaves.
Three future presidents – James Polk, Millard Fillmore, and William McKinley – served as committee chair. Before the official roles of floor leader came about in the late 19th century, the chair of Ways and Means was considered the majority leader. The chair is one of very few representatives to have office space within the Capitol building itself.

Political significance

Because of its wide jurisdiction, Ways and Means has always been one of the most important committees with respect to impact on policy. Although it lacks the prospects for reelection help that comes with the Appropriations Committee, it is seen as a valuable post for two reasons: given the wide array of interests that are affected by the committee, a seat makes it easy to collect campaign contributions and since its range is broad, members with a wide array of policy concerns often seek positions to be able to influence policy decisions. Some recent major issues that have gone through the Ways and Means Committee include welfare reform, a Medicare prescription drug benefit, Social Security reform, George W. Bush's tax cuts, and trade agreements including the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Central America Free Trade Agreement.
From 1911 to 1974, the Ways and Means Committee also had the responsibility to appoint members of other committees in addition to its legislative duties. When Ways and Means chair Wilbur Mills' career ended in scandal, Congressman Phillip Burton transferred the committee's selection powers to a separate, newly created committee.

Members, 119th Congress

Resolutions electing members:,,,

Subcommittees

There are six subcommittees in the 118th Congress. In 2011, the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support was renamed the Subcommittee on Human Resources, returning to the name it held prior to the 110th United States Congress. In 2015, the Select Revenue Measures was renamed the Subcommittee on Tax Policy. In 2019 these two subcommittees were again renamed under Democratic control; Human Resources became Worker and Family Support and Tax Policy was renamed to Select Revenue Measures. In 2023 and under a return to Republican control, they were again renamed to Work and Welfare and Tax respectively.
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
HealthVern Buchanan Lloyd Doggett
OversightDavid Schweikert Terri Sewell
Social SecurityRon Estes John B. Larson
TaxMike Kelly Mike Thompson
TradeAdrian Smith Linda Sánchez
Work and WelfareDarin LaHood Danny Davis

Leadership




NamePartyStateStartEnd
DemocraticOH18631865
DemocraticNY18661866
DemocraticMO18661867
DemocraticNY18671873
DemocraticKY18731875
RepublicanME18751876
RepublicanPA18761879
RepublicanOH18791880
RepublicanPA18801881
DemocraticPA18811883
RepublicanPA18831889
DemocraticKY18891890
DemocraticTX18901891
RepublicanME18911895
DemocraticGA18951896
DemocraticTN18961897
DemocraticTX18971899
DemocraticTN18991903
DemocraticMS19031907
DemocraticMO19071911
RepublicanNY19111914
RepublicanMI19141919
DemocraticNC19191923
DemocraticTX19231931
RepublicanOR19311933
RepublicanMA19331945
RepublicanMN19451947
DemocraticNC19471949
RepublicanNY19491953
DemocraticTN19531955
RepublicanNY19551959
RepublicanPA19591960
RepublicanIL19601963
RepublicanWI19631973
RepublicanPA19731977
RepublicanNY19771985
RepublicanTN19851988
RepublicanTX19881995
DemocraticFL19951997
DemocraticNY19972007
RepublicanLA20072009
RepublicanMI20092011
DemocraticMI20112017
DemocraticMA20172019
RepublicanTX20192023
DemocraticMA2023present


Historical membership rosters

Resolutions electing members:,,,,,
;Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
HealthVern Buchanan Lloyd Doggett
OversightDavid Schweikert Bill Pascrell
Linda Sánchez
Social SecurityDrew Ferguson John B. Larson
TaxMike Kelly Mike Thompson
TradeAdrian Smith Earl Blumenauer
Work and WelfareDarin LaHood Danny K. Davis

117th Congress

Resolutions electing members:,,,,,
;Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
HealthLloyd Doggett Vern Buchanan
OversightBill Pascrell Tom Rice
Select Revenue MeasuresMike Thompson Mike Kelly
Social SecurityJohn B. Larson Tom Reed
TradeEarl Blumenauer Adrian Smith
Worker and Family SupportDanny Davis Vacant

116th Congress

Resolutions electing members: ;,,
;Subcommittee
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
HealthLloyd Doggett Devin Nunes
Worker and Family SupportDanny Davis Jackie Walorski
OversightBill Pascrell Mike Kelly
Select Revenue MeasuresMike Thompson Adrian Smith
Social SecurityJohn B. Larson Tom Reed
TradeEarl Blumenauer Vern Buchanan

115th Congress

  • Resolutions electing members: ; ;,, ;,

Primary sources

  • Rangel, Charles B.; Wynter, Leon. And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since: From the Streets of Harlem to the Halls of Congress. New York: St. Martin's Press.