For the past two years, the makeup of U.S. Senate committees has been divided evenly between Democrats and Republicans, in order to reflect the 50-50 split in the full chamber.
However, with an incoming 51-49 majority (when including three independent senators), Senate Democrats will now have true control of committees, opening the door to more investigative authority. Through greater oversight ability and subpoena power, committee and subcommittee chairs can begin to tackle corruption in corporate America.
Sign the petition to Senate Democrats: Use committee control to investigate corporate America.
Senate progressives plan to rise to the challenge. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is expected to chair the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where he hopes to investigate price gouging of pharmaceutical drugs.
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal is in line to become chair of the Consumer Production and Product Safety Subcommittee and wants to look into Big Tech, while Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is ready to investigate energy companies and climate change in the Budget Committee.
RELATED: Senate Democrats have a chance to do real investigations on important issues. They need to take it
It’s clear that Senate Democrats are already preparing to use their majority strategically in the next Congress. And while our senators will have no shortage of work to prioritize—nominations, legislation, budgeting—but they can walk and chew gum at the same time.
As their responsibilities begin to pile up, let’s remind senators that we’re counting on them to follow through on their promises to investigate corporate America.
Sign the petition to tell Senate Democrats to use their new 51-49 majority to investigate corporations!
However, with an incoming 51-49 majority (when including three independent senators), Senate Democrats will now have true control of committees, opening the door to more investigative authority. Through greater oversight ability and subpoena power, committee and subcommittee chairs can begin to tackle corruption in corporate America.
Sign the petition to Senate Democrats: Use committee control to investigate corporate America.
Senate progressives plan to rise to the challenge. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is expected to chair the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where he hopes to investigate price gouging of pharmaceutical drugs.
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal is in line to become chair of the Consumer Production and Product Safety Subcommittee and wants to look into Big Tech, while Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is ready to investigate energy companies and climate change in the Budget Committee.
RELATED: Senate Democrats have a chance to do real investigations on important issues. They need to take it
It’s clear that Senate Democrats are already preparing to use their majority strategically in the next Congress. And while our senators will have no shortage of work to prioritize—nominations, legislation, budgeting—but they can walk and chew gum at the same time.
As their responsibilities begin to pile up, let’s remind senators that we’re counting on them to follow through on their promises to investigate corporate America.
Sign the petition to tell Senate Democrats to use their new 51-49 majority to investigate corporations!