Politics & Government

Tim Kaine Gets Senate Committee Assignments

Soon-to-be Senator will serve on three committees important to Northern Virginia.

Senator-elect Tim Kaine, who will be sworn into office Jan. 3, will serve on three Senate committees important to Northern Virginia. His office announced he will serve on the following committees:

Kaine had asked to join Armed Services, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Foreign Relations and Small Business and Entrepreneurship — in that order, according to a recent blog post on The Washington Post Web site.

"I am excited to tackle these meaningful committee assignments," Kaine said in a news release. "Because of Virginia's deep connections to the military, through active duty personnel, veterans, military families and the private sector, Virginia needs a strong voice on the Armed Services committee as Congress makes decisions involving our military.

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"As a member of the Foreign Relations committee, I hope to work with colleagues to build and maintain strong international relationships, enhancing our nation's security and developing the global connections that lead to economic success," he said. Kaine, who is fluent in Spanish, took a yearlong break during law school to work with the Jesuit order as a missionary in Honduras.

"And as a governor who had to keep a budget balanced during the worst recession in 70 years," he said, "I believe my experience can be of value on the Budget committee as Congress wrestles with our fiscal challenges."

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Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, who announced his retirement from the Senate, is a member of the Armed Services committee and the Foreign Relations committee.

Kaine will serve on the Budget committee with his friend and the state's senior Sen. Mark Warner, also a Democrat.

Former Sen. George Allen, a Republican who ran against Webb and Kaine, served on the Foreign Relations Committee from 2000-'06.

The anticipated committee assignments are subject to approval by the full Democratic caucus and approval of an organizing resolution by the full Senate when the 113th Congress convenes in January.


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