Keeps coveted positions on Foreign Relations, Appropriations, Banking, and Rules Committees
WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) today announced his committee assignments for the 118th Congress, again achieving highly sought-after appointments to the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations; Appropriations; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and Rules. Retaining and increasing the seniority of his position on these preeminent committees demonstrates Hagerty’s successful committee work and leadership during the 117th Congress and will enhance his ability to serve the people of Tennessee and advance American national security, economic strength, and job creation.
“During the 117th Congress, being positioned on the right committees enabled me to use my extensive background and experience in business, diplomacy, finance, trade, and job creation to represent the interests of Tennesseans and advance American prosperity,” said Senator Hagerty. “Through this committee work, I held the Biden Administration accountable for its global and domestic failures, pushed back against the politicization of our financial institutions, military, and government, pushed back on the Biden Administration’s open-border policies fighting to retain and strengthen Title 42, highlighted and sought to halt the threat of the Chinese Communist Party at home and abroad, opposed partisan legislation to federalize elections and curtail critical First Amendment protections, and promoted conservative policies across a broad range of domestic and international areas through the appropriations process. As we enter a new Congress, I look forward to building upon this work in order to increase the security and prosperity of Tennesseans.”
Hagerty is the former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and a lifelong businessman. He started his business career with Boston Consulting Group, where his work took him to five continents. He later built, invested in, and served as an executive and board member of a wide range of businesses. Hagerty also previously served as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, where he was one of the country’s top job creators.
About Hagerty’s Committees
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was established in 1816 and has been instrumental in developing and influencing United States foreign policy. The committee has considered, debated, and reported important treaties and legislation over the years, and it also holds jurisdiction over all diplomatic nominations. Through these powers, the committee has helped shape foreign policy of broad significance, in matters of war and peace and international relations.
As the only current Senator with experience as a U.S. Ambassador, serving as a Foreign Relations Committee member has allowed Hagerty to employ this experience managing one of our most important foreign missions and implementing American policies concerning the U.S.-Japan Alliance and the threats posed by China, Russia, and North Korea. He has also worked through his leadership position on the subcommittee overseeing State Department management to pass the first bipartisan legislation to reform and modernize the State Department in more than 40 years.
U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
The Senate Appropriations Committee is the largest committee in the U.S. Senate, originating in 1867. Its role is defined by the U.S. Constitution, which requires “appropriations made by law” prior to the expenditure of any money from the Federal treasury. The Committee writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis, including spending made available for the military and diplomacy, limited to the levels set by the Senate Budget Committee. Twelve subcommittees are tasked with drafting legislation to allocate funds to government agencies within their jurisdictions. These subcommittees are responsible for reviewing the President’s budget request, hearing testimony from government officials and other witnesses, and drafting the spending plans for the coming fiscal year.
In serving on the Appropriations Committee, Hagerty has promoted responsible government funding, achieved tangible results for Tennesseans, and conducted oversight across a broad range of domestic and international subjects. He has used this position during the 117th Congress to advocate for a more transparent appropriations process focused on the needs of the American people.
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs
The Banking Committee, formally established in 1913, plays an integral role in managing legislation that affects the lives of many Americans. These areas of jurisdiction include, but are not limited to: banking, insurance, financial markets, securities, housing, urban development and mass transit, international trade and finance, and economic policy as well as jurisdiction over the United States’ international sanctions policy.
Hagerty’s position on the Banking Committee has allowed him to utilize his private-sector experience and service as Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to promote policies that will create jobs and increase wages for American workers by encouraging investment in America. And as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance, Hagerty has used his experience advancing American interests with the use of sanctions against our foreign adversaries gained while serving as U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
U.S. Senate Committee on Rules & Administration
The Rules Committee is one of the oldest committees of the U.S. Senate, dating to 1789. In addition to oversight of the rules and procedures of the Senate, the committee has jurisdiction over federal election law and the management and security of the U.S. Capitol complex, which includes the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institutions.
As a Rules Committee member, Hagerty has blocked partisan legislation to federalize election administration and worked to ensure that the U.S. Library of Congress is properly implementing copyright-related legislation that impacts Tennessee songwriters.
Committee assignments are expected to be formally ratified by the Senate in the coming days.
