Budget Committee

With the start of the 108th Congress, Senator Domenici stepped down as the longest serving Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee to accept a new challenge in leading the Energy Committee.

Serving on the Budget Committee since 1975, Domenici was the only Republican Chairman in the Committee's history, holding the position for over 12 years. He was Ranking Member for nine years.

As Chairman or Ranking Member, Senator Domenici worked with more than eight Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Directors, and during the stock market crash of 1987, contributed to one of the first major budget summit agreements. The pinnacle of his budget leadership occurred in 1997 with the historic Bipartisan Balanced Budget Agreement. Throughout his tenure, he also helped craft the Credit Reform Act of 1990 and the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. He also supported the 1985 Gramm-Rudman-Hollings deficit-reduction plan.

The highs and lows, and the myriad of challenges of the last 20 years, demanding as they may have been, may pale in comparison to those of the years to come. Senator Domenici argues that if Congress drew up new budgets every two years instead of annually, it could concentrate on other issues. It is therefore somewhat ironic, but appropriate, that the gavel of the Republican Budget Committee chairmanship turns to a younger hand. Senator Don Nickles is now charged with helping to lead fiscal policy through the vigorous changes in American demographics. However, Senator Domenici will continue as a senior statesman and valued member of the Committee to provide guidance and advice along the way.

Throughout Senator Domenici's distinguished career on the Budget Committee, he has been at the center of federal budgeting that includes:

  • 26 concurrent budget resolutions
  • 27 Senate Resolutions
  • 26 Committee-reported resolutions
  • 17 major budget reconciliation bills (three which were vetoed)

For more information on Senator Domenici's views and activities on the Budget Committee, visit our online News Center.

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