Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Warner (R-VA) listen to Admiral Mike Mullen 's confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Committee to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in July 2007. The Armed Services Committee is the prime scene of discussion regarding U.S. military in the Senate.
In June 2009, Armed Services Committee senators Joe Lieberman , Carl Levin (chair), and John McCain , listen to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus deliver his opening remarks for the fiscal year 2010 budget request in June 2009.
Hearing regarding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell ", U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates greets Ranking member, John McCain . December 2, 2010.
Hearing on sexual assault in the military, June 4, 2013
The Committee on Armed Services (sometimes abbreviated SASC for Senate Armed Services Committee ) is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military , including the Department of Defense , military research and development , nuclear energy (as pertaining to national security ), benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System and other matters related to defense policy. The Armed Services Committee was created as a result of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 following the U.S. victory in the Second World War . The bill merged the responsibilities of the Committee on Naval Affairs (established in 1816) and the Committee on Military Affairs (also established in 1816).
Considered one of the most powerful Senate committees, its broad mandate allowed it to report some of the most extensive and revolutionary legislation during the Cold War years, including the National Security Act of 1947 . The committee tends to take a more bipartisan approach than other committees, as many of its members formerly served in the military or have major defense interests located in the states they come from. The committee's regular legislative product is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which has been passed by Congress and signed into law each year since 1962.
The current chair is Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and the Ranking Member is Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi (2023).
Jurisdiction
According to the Standing Rules of the United States Senate , all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects are referred to the Armed Services Committee:
Aeronautical and space activities pertaining to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems or military operations.
Common defense.
Department of Defense, the Department of the Army , the Department of the Navy , and the Department of the Air Force , generally.
Maintenance and operation of the Panama Canal, including administration, sanitation, and government of the Canal Zone.
Military research and development.
National security aspects of nuclear energy.
Naval petroleum reserves, except those in Alaska.
Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and privileges of members of the Armed Forces, including overseas education of civilian and military dependents.
Selective service system.
Strategic and critical materials necessary for the common defense.
Members, 118th Congress
Majority
Minority
Jack Reed , Rhode Island, Chair
Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire
Kirsten Gillibrand , New York
Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut
Mazie Hirono , Hawaii
Tim Kaine , Virginia
Angus King , Maine
Elizabeth Warren , Massachusetts
Gary Peters , Michigan
Joe Manchin , West Virginia
Tammy Duckworth , Illinois
Jacky Rosen , Nevada
Mark Kelly , Arizona
Roger Wicker , Mississippi, Ranking Member
Deb Fischer , Nebraska
Tom Cotton , Arkansas
Mike Rounds , South Dakota
Joni Ernst , Iowa
Dan Sullivan , Alaska
Kevin Cramer , North Dakota
Rick Scott , Florida
Tommy Tuberville , Alabama
Markwayne Mullin , Oklahoma
Ted Budd , North Carolina
Eric Schmitt , Missouri
Subcommittees
Chairs
Committee on Military Affairs, 1816–1947
Committee on Naval Affairs, 1816–1947
Committee on Armed Services, 1947–present
Historical committee rosters
111th Congress
Majority
Minority
Carl Levin , Michigan, Chair
Joseph Lieberman , Connecticut
Jack Reed , Rhode Island
Daniel Akaka , Hawaii
Bill Nelson , Florida
Ben Nelson , Nebraska
Evan Bayh , Indiana
Jim Webb , Virginia
Claire McCaskill , Missouri
Mark Udall , Colorado
Kay Hagan , North Carolina
Mark Begich , Alaska
Roland Burris , Illinois, until November 2010
Jeff Bingaman , New Mexico
Ted Kaufman , Delaware, until November 2010
Carte Goodwin , West Virginia, until November 2010
Joe Manchin , West Virginia, from November 2010
Chris Coons , Delaware, from November 2010
John McCain , Arizona, Ranking Member
James Inhofe , Oklahoma
Jeff Sessions , Alabama
Saxby Chambliss , Georgia
Lindsey Graham , South Carolina
John Thune , South Dakota
Roger Wicker , Mississippi
George LeMieux , Florida
Scott Brown , Massachusetts
Richard Burr , North Carolina
David Vitter , Louisiana
Susan Collins , Maine
Source: 2010 Congressional Record , Vol. 156, Page S6226
Subcommittees
112th Congress
Majority
Minority
Carl Levin , Michigan, Chair
Joseph Lieberman , Connecticut
Jack Reed , Rhode Island
Daniel Akaka , Hawaii
Ben Nelson , Nebraska
Jim Webb , Virginia
Claire McCaskill , Missouri
Mark Udall , Colorado
Kay Hagan , North Carolina
Mark Begich , Alaska
Joe Manchin , West Virginia
Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire
Kirsten Gillibrand , New York
Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut
John McCain , Arizona, Ranking Member
James Inhofe , Oklahoma
Jeff Sessions , Alabama
Saxby Chambliss , Georgia
Roger Wicker , Mississippi
Scott Brown , Massachusetts
Rob Portman , Ohio
Kelly Ayotte , New Hampshire
Susan Collins , Maine
Lindsey Graham , South Carolina
John Cornyn , Texas
David Vitter , Louisiana
Source: 2011 Congressional Record , Vol. 157, Page S557
Subcommittees
113th Congress
Majority
Minority
Carl Levin , Michigan, Chair
Jack Reed , Rhode Island
Bill Nelson , Florida
Claire McCaskill , Missouri
Mark Udall , Colorado
Kay Hagan , North Carolina
Joe Manchin , West Virginia
Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire
Kirsten Gillibrand , New York
Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut
Joe Donnelly , Indiana
Mazie Hirono , Hawaii
Tim Kaine , Virginia
Angus King , Maine
James Inhofe , Oklahoma, Ranking Member
John McCain , Arizona
Jeff Sessions , Alabama
Saxby Chambliss , Georgia
Roger Wicker , Mississippi
Kelly Ayotte , New Hampshire
Deb Fischer , Nebraska
Lindsey Graham , South Carolina
David Vitter , Louisiana
Roy Blunt , Missouri
Mike Lee , Utah
Ted Cruz , Texas
Source: 2013 Congressional Record , Vol. 159, Page S296
Subcommittees
114th Congress
Majority
Minority
John McCain , Arizona, Chairman
Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma
Jeff Sessions , Alabama
Roger Wicker , Mississippi
Kelly Ayotte , New Hampshire
Deb Fischer , Nebraska
Tom Cotton , Arkansas
Mike Rounds , South Dakota
Joni Ernst , Iowa
Thom Tillis , North Carolina
Dan Sullivan , Alaska
Mike Lee , Utah
Lindsey Graham , South Carolina
Ted Cruz , Texas
Jack Reed , Rhode Island, Ranking Member
Bill Nelson , Florida
Claire McCaskill , Missouri
Joe Manchin , West Virginia
Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire
Kirsten Gillibrand , New York
Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut
Joe Donnelly , Indiana
Mazie Hirono , Hawaii
Tim Kaine , Virginia
Angus King , Maine
Martin Heinrich , New Mexico
115th Congress
Majority
Minority
Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma, Chairman (from September 6, 2018)
John McCain , Arizona, Chairman (until August 25, 2018)
Roger Wicker , Mississippi
Deb Fischer , Nebraska
Tom Cotton , Arkansas
Mike Rounds , South Dakota
Joni Ernst , Iowa
Thom Tillis , North Carolina
Dan Sullivan , Alaska
David Perdue , Georgia
Ted Cruz , Texas
Lindsey Graham , South Carolina
Ben Sasse , Nebraska
Tim Scott , South Carolina
Jon Kyl , Arizona (from September 6, 2018)
Jack Reed , Rhode Island, Ranking Member
Bill Nelson , Florida
Claire McCaskill , Missouri
Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire
Kirsten Gillibrand , New York
Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut
Joe Donnelly , Indiana
Mazie Hirono , Hawaii
Tim Kaine , Virginia
Angus King , Maine
Martin Heinrich , New Mexico
Elizabeth Warren , Massachusetts
Gary Peters , Michigan
116th Congress
Majority
Minority
Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma, Chairman
Roger Wicker , Mississippi
Deb Fischer , Nebraska
Tom Cotton , Arkansas
Mike Rounds , South Dakota
Joni Ernst , Iowa
Thom Tillis , North Carolina
Dan Sullivan , Alaska
David Perdue , Georgia
Kevin Cramer , North Dakota
Martha McSally , Arizona (until December 2, 2020)
Rick Scott , Florida
Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee
Josh Hawley , Missouri
Jack Reed , Rhode Island, Ranking Member
Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire
Kirsten Gillibrand , New York
Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut
Mazie Hirono , Hawaii
Tim Kaine , Virginia
Angus King , Maine
Martin Heinrich , New Mexico
Elizabeth Warren , Massachusetts
Gary Peters , Michigan
Joe Manchin , West Virginia
Tammy Duckworth , Illinois
Doug Jones , Alabama
117th Congress
Majority
Minority
Jack Reed , Rhode Island, Chair
Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire
Kirsten Gillibrand , New York
Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut
Mazie Hirono , Hawaii
Tim Kaine , Virginia
Angus King , Maine
Elizabeth Warren , Massachusetts
Gary Peters , Michigan
Joe Manchin , West Virginia
Tammy Duckworth , Illinois
Jacky Rosen , Nevada
Mark Kelly , Arizona
Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma, Ranking Member
Roger Wicker , Mississippi
Deb Fischer , Nebraska
Tom Cotton , Arkansas
Mike Rounds , South Dakota
Joni Ernst , Iowa
Thom Tillis , North Carolina
Dan Sullivan , Alaska
Kevin Cramer , North Dakota
Rick Scott , Florida
Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee
Josh Hawley , Missouri
Tommy Tuberville , Alabama
Source:
See also