Hearing on Education Secretary Nomination and New Education Committee Members

Publication Number 95 February 10, 2021

Nomination of Miguel Cardona to Serve as U.S. Secretary of Education

On February 3, 2021, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Miguel Cardona to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education. The HELP Committee will vote on his nomination on February 11, 2021. If approved, which appears likely, the nomination will move to the full Senate for approval.

Earlier, Cynthia Marten was nominated by President Biden to serve as Deputy Secretary of Education. A hearing on her nomination has not yet been scheduled. 

The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) announced on February 3 that Michelle Asha Cooper has been appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Postsecondary Education. She will serve as the Acting Assistant Secretary. This position does not require confirmation by the Senate.  

HELP Committee Membership for the New Congress

The HELP Committee has announced its membership for the new Congress. The Democrats have the majority in the Senate; therefore, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) will Chair the Committee. Richard Burr (R-NC) will be the Committee’s Ranking Member. Twenty-two percent of the members of the Committee did not serve on the Committee in the last Congress.

The Members are:

Majority Democrats by Rank:

Patty Murray (WA)
Bernie Sanders (VT)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA)
Tammy Baldwin (WI)
Christopher S. Murphy (CT)
Tim Kaine (VA)
Maggie Hassan (NH)
Tina Smith (MN)
Jacky Rosen (NV)
Ben Ray Lujan (NM)
John Hickenlooper (CO)

Minority (Republicans) By Rank

Richard Burr (NC)
Rand Paul (KY)
Susan Collins (ME)
Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA)
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Mike Braun (IN)
Roger Marshall (KS)
Tim Scott (SC)
Mitt Romney (UT)
Tommy Tuberville (AL)
Jerry Moran (KS)

House Education and Labor Committee Membership for the New Congress

On February 8, 2021, the House Education and Labor Committee held its organization meeting and announced the Committee’s Membership. The Democrats retained the majority in the House and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) will remain Chair the Committee, with Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) as Ranking Member. The Chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment is Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and the Ranking Member is Gregory Murphy (NC). Both are new to these assignments. Thirty percent of the members of the Committee are freshman. Thirty-nine percent of the Committee did not serve on the Committee in the last Congress.

Majority (Democrats) By Rank

Bobby Scott (VA)
Raul M. Grijalva (AZ)
Joe Courtney (CT)
Marcia L. Fudge (OH)
Gregorio Kilili Sablan (MP)
Frederica S. Wilson (FL)
Suzanne Bonamici (OR)
Mark Takano (CA)
Alma S. Adams (NC)
Mark DeSaulner (CA)
Donald Norcross (NJ)
Pramila Jayapal (WA)
Joseph Morelle (NY)
Susan Wild (PA)
Lucy McBath (GA)
Jahana Hayes (CT)
Andy Levin (MI)
Ilhan Omar (MN)
Haley Stevens (MI)
Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM)
Mondaire Jones (NY)
Kathy Manning (NC)
Frank Mrvan (IN)
Jamaal Bowman (NY)
Mark Pocan (WI)
Joaquin Castro (TX)
Mikie Sherrill (NJ)
John A. Yarmuth (KY)
Adriano Espaillat (NY)
Vacancy

Minority (Republicans) By Rank

Virginia Foxx (NC)
Joe Wilson (SC)
Glenn "G.T." Thompson (PA)
Tim Walberg (MI)
Glenn Grothman (WI)
Elise Stefanik (NY)
Rick Allen (GA)
Jim Banks (IN)
James Comer (KY)
Russ Fulcher (ID)
Fred Keller (PA)
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA)
Burgess Owens (UT)
Bob Good (VA)
Lisa McClain (MI)
Diana Harshbarger (TN)
Mary Miller(IL)
Victoria Spartz (IN)
Scott Fitzgerald (WI)
Madison Cawthorn (NC)
Michelle Steel (CA)
Two Vacancies