House Committees HOUSE BANKING COMMITTEE 2129 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 202-225-2771 In brief: The committee underwent a major face lift after Republicans took over. Rep. Jim Leach of Iowa, the new chairman, may be a liberal within the Republican Party, but he is a raging moderate compared to former chairman Henry B. Gonzalez, D-Tex. Even more remarkable than the new leadership is the bumper crop of freshmen that wound up on the panel. While Rep. Ken Bentsen of Texas is the lone newcomer on the Democratic side, Republicans seated 17 new members. With so many rookies, lobbyists are still trying to figure out how the votes line up. Lobbyists assume the panel is more conservative, and more sympathetic to regulatory relief and free market ideas. How it will break down in the traditional turf battles among the banking, securities, and insurance industries is far from clear. Majority members: Jim Leach, Iowa (chairman) Bill McCollum, Fla. Marge Roukema, N.J. Doug Bereuter, Neb. Toby Roth, Wis. Richard H. Baker, La. Rick Lazio, N.Y. Spencer Bachus, Ala. Michael Castle, Del. Peter King, N.Y. Edward Royce, Calif. Frank D. Lucas, Okla. Jerry Weller, Ill. J.D. Hayworth, Ariz. Jack Metcalf, Wash. Sonny Bono, Calif. Bob Ney, Ohio Robert L. Ehrlich, Md. Bob Barr, Ga. Dick Chrysler, Mich. Frank A. Cremeans, Ohio Jon D. Fox, Pa. Fred Heineman, N.C. Steve Stockman, Tex. Frank A. LoBiondo, N.J. J.C. Watts, Okla. Sue W. Kelly, N.Y. Minority members: Henry B. Gonzalez, Tex. (ranking) John J. LaFalce, N.Y. Bruce F. Vento, Minn. Charles E. Schumer, N.Y. Barney Frank, Mass. Paul E. Kanjorski, Pa. Joseph P. Kennedy 2d, Mass. Floyd H. Flake, N.Y. Kweisi Mfume, Md. Maxine Waters, Calif. William H. Orton, Utah Carolyn B. Maloney, N.Y. Luis V. Gutierrez, Ill. Lucille Roybal-Allard, Calif. Thomas M. Barrett, Wis. Nydia M. Velazquez, N.Y. Albert R. Wynn, Md. Cleo Fields, La. Melvin Watt, N.C. Maurice Hinchey, N.Y. Gary L. Ackerman, N.Y. Ken Bentsen, Tex. Independent Bernard Sanders, Vt. Majority staff: 225-2258 Tony Cole, staff director 255-6576 Joe Ventrone, deputy staff director 225-6634 Joe Seidel, general counsel 225-2258 Minority staff: 225-4247 Kelsay Meek, staff director 225-4247 Armando Falcon, general counsel 225-3236 Amy Friend, counsel subcommittees: Capital markets, securities, and government sponsored enterprises Rep. Richard H. Baker, R-La., chairman Greg Wierzynski, assistant majority staff director 202-225-6634 Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Pa., ranking Democrat Domestic and international monetary policy Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del., chairman James McCormick, assistant majority staff director 202-225-6634 Rep. Floyd H. Flake, D-N.Y., ranking Democrat Financial institutions and consumer credit Rep. Marge Roukema, R-N.J., chairwoman Laurie Schafer, assistant majority staff director 202-225-2258 Rep. Bruce Vento, D-Minn., ranking Democrat General oversight and investigations Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., chairman Jack Sharman, assistant majority staff director 202-226-3280 Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., ranking Democrat Housing and community opportunity Rep. Rick Lazio, R-N.Y., chairman Joseph Ventrone, assistant majority staff director 202-225-6634 Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy 2d, D-Mass., ranking Democrat Nancy Libson, minority staff assistant 202-225-7054 HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE 2125 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 202-225-2927 In brief: This panel, previously known as the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has stood solidly in the way of almost every effort to expand bank securities and insurance powers. Although the panel's leadership has changed, its feelings about bank powers appear to have remained stubbornly the same. That became clear when Chairman Thomas Bliley, R-Va., introduced legislation - cosponsored by his predecessor, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich. - that would give states the right to bar national banks from selling insurance. The committee retains jurisdiction over the securities and insurance industries, and its subcommittee on telecommunications and finance is the key panel for the financial services industry. Also important is the oversight subcommittee, a panel that former chairman Dingell frequently used to explore banking issues. The panel has adopted a unified staff structure so that all aides work for the parent committee rather than for subcommittees. The listing below notes aides who deal with issues related to subcommittee work. Rep. Thomas J. Bliley, R-Va. (chairman) James Derderian, staff director, 225-9297 Steve Blumenthal, securities issues, 226-2424 Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich. (ranking minority member)