WASHINGTON—House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) today announced his appointees to two bipartisan, House-Senate select committees, including a panel that will pursue reforms to the budget and appropriations process. 

These joint select committees were established under the recently enacted Bipartisan Budget Act. Speaker Ryan’s appointees, announced during this morning’s House session, serve on committees with legislative jurisdiction over these issues.

Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform

Speaker Ryan has named the following lawmakers to this select committee, which is charged with advancing reforms to the budget and appropriations process:

• Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), chairman of the House Budget Committee
   
• Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Rules
   
• Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA), House Budget Committee
   
• Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX), House Budget Committee

“Our budget process is broken, and this is a chance to make real changes,” Speaker Ryan said. “Both parties—and just as importantly, both the House and the Senate—have to come to the table and figure out how to do better for the taxpayer. A working budget process is vital to tackling our pressing fiscal challenges.”

Joint Select Committee on the Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans

Speaker Ryan has named the following lawmakers to this select committee, which is charged with improving the solvency of multiemployer pension plans and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC):

• Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
   
• Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN), House Committee on Education and the Workforce
   
• Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), House Committee on Ways and Means
   
• Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), House Committee on Ways and Means

“It is critical that we address the stability of multiemployer pension plans, and the overall solvency of the PBGC,” Speaker Ryan said. “The select committee should seize this opportunity to forge a bipartisan solution that protects retirees, workers, and taxpayers.” 

Additional Background

• The Bipartisan Budget Act requires the joint select committees to hold public hearings, and vote on their findings and legislative recommendations no later than November 30, 2018. If approved, those recommendations would be submitted for consideration by the House and Senate. The select committees will be dissolved no later than December 31, 2018.

• Each panel has 16 members, divided equally between the House and Senate, with four appointees each by the Speaker, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Democratic Leader, and the House Democratic Leader. Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi’s appointees were named during this morning’s House session.