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History of the committee

Attempts were made to create a congressional committee on education and labor starting with the early congresses but issues over Congress's constitutional ability to oversee such issues delayed the committee's formation. Finally, on March 21, 1867, the Committee on Education and Labor was founded following the end of the Civil War and during the rapid industrialization of America. On December 19, 1883, the committee was divided into two, the Committee on Education and the Committee on Labor. The committees again merged on January 2, 1947, after the passage of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, becoming the Committee on Education and Labor again.

Name changes

On January 4, 1995, when the Republicans took over the House, the committee was renamed the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. It was renamed again as the Committee on Education and the Workforce two years later on January 7, 1997. On January 4, 2007, with the Democrats once again in the majority, the committee's name was changed back to Committee on Education and Labor.¹ After Republicans recaptured the House majority in the 2010 elections, they returned to the name, Committee on Education and the Workforce, effective with the opening of the 112th Congress in 2011.² After Democrats recaptured the House majority in the 2018 elections, they similarly returned to the previous name, Committee on Education and Labor, effective with the opening of the 116th Congress in 2019. With the passing of the new House Rules associated to the Speaker negotiations in January of 2023, the 118th Congress renamed the committee as the Committee on Education and the Workforce again.³

Members, 119th Congress

Majority

Minority

Tim Walberg, Michigan, Chair Joe Wilson, South Carolina Virginia Foxx, North Carolina Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania Glenn Grothman, Wisconsin Elise Stefanik, New York Rick Allen, Georgia James Comer, Kentucky Burgess Owens, Utah, Vice Chair4 Lisa McClain, Michigan Mary Miller, Illinois Julia Letlow, Louisiana Kevin Kiley, California Erin Houchin, Indiana Michael Rulli, Ohio James Moylan, Guam (from February 5, 2025) Bob Onder, Missouri Ryan Mackenzie, Pennsylvania Michael Baumgartner, Washington Mark Harris, North Carolina Mark Messmer, Indiana Randy Fine, Florida (from April 8, 2025)

Bobby Scott, Virginia, Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva, Arizona (until March 13, 2025) Joe Courtney, Connecticut Frederica Wilson, Florida Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Mark Takano, California Alma Adams, North Carolina Mark DeSaulnier, California Donald Norcross, New Jersey Lucy McBath, Georgia Jahana Hayes, Connecticut Ilhan Omar, Minnesota Haley Stevens, Michigan Greg Casar, Texas, Vice Ranking Member5 Summer Lee, Pennsylvania John Mannion, New York

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 13 (Chair), H.Res. 14 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 38 (R), H.Res. 40 (D), H.Res. 107 (Moylan), H.Res. 300 (Fine)

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair6	Ranking Member7
Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education	Kevin Kiley (R-CA)	Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions	Rick Allen (R-GA)	Mark Desaulnier (D-CA)
Higher Education and Workforce Development	Burgess Owens (R-UT)	Alma Adams (D-NC)
Workforce Protections	Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA)	Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

Chairs

Committee on Education and Labor (1867–1883)

Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service
Jehu Baker	Republican	IL	1867	1860
Samuel F. Cary	Republican	OH	1869
Samuel M. Arnell	Republican	TN	1869	1871
Legrand W. Perce	Republican	MS	1871	1873
James Monroe	Republican	OH	1873	1875
Gilbert C. Walker	Democratic	VA	1875	1877
John Goode	Democratic	VA	1877	1881
Jonathan T. Updegraff	Republican	OH	1881	1882
John C. Sherwin	Republican	IL	1882	1883

Committee on Education and Committee on Labor (1883–1947)

Committee on Education						Committee on Labor
Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service		Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service
D. Wyatt Aiken	Democratic	SC	1883	1887		James H. Hopkins	Democratic	PA	1883	1885
Allen D. Candler	Democratic	GA	1887	1889		John J. O'Neill	Democratic	MO	1885	1889
James O'Donnell	Republican	MI	1889	1891		William H. Wade	Republican	MO	1889	1891
Walter I. Hayes	Democratic	IA	1891	1892		John C. Tarsney	Democratic	MO	1891	1893
David B. Brunner	Democratic	PA	1892			Lawrence E. McGann	Democratic	IL	1893	1895
Benjamin A. Enloe	Democratic	TN	1892	1895		Thomas W. Phillips	Republican	PA	1895	1897
Galusha A. Grow	Republican	PA	1895	1903		John J. Gardner	Republican	NJ	1897	1911
George N. Southwick	Republican	NY	1903	1909		William B. Wilson	Democratic	PA	1911	1913
James F. Burke	Republican	PA	1909	1911		David J. Lewis	Democratic	MD	1913	1917
Asbury F. Lever	Democratic	SC	1911	1913		James P. Maher	Democratic	NY	1917	1919
Dudley M. Hughes	Democratic	GA	1913	1917		John M. C. Smith	Republican	MI	1919	1921
William J. Sears	Democratic	FL	1917	1919		John I. Nolan	Republican	CA	1921	1922
Simeon D. Fess	Republican	OH	1919	1923		Frederick N. Zihlman	Republican	MD	1922	1925
Frederick W. Dallinger	Republican	MA	1923	1925		William F. Kopp	Republican	IA	1925	1930
Daniel A. Reed	Republican	NY	1925	1931		Richard J. Welch	Republican	CA	1930	1931
John J. Douglass	Democratic	MA	1931	1935		William P. Connery Jr.	Democratic	MA	1931	1937
Vincent L. Palmisano	Democratic	MD	1935	1937		Mary Teresa Norton	Democratic	NJ	1937	1947
William H. Larrabee	Democratic	IN	1937	1943
Graham A. Barden	Democratic	NC	1943	1947

Committee on Education and Labor (1947–1995)

Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service
Fred A. Hartley	Republican	NJ	1947	1949
John Lesinski Sr.	Democratic	MI	1949	1950
Graham A. Barden	Democratic	NC	1950	1953
Samuel K. McConnell	Republican	PA	1953	1955
Graham A. Barden	Democratic	NC	1955	1961
Adam Clayton Powell	Democratic	NY	1961	1967
Carl D. Perkins	Democratic	KY	1967	1984
Augustus F. Hawkins	Democratic	CA	1984	1991
William D. Ford	Democratic	MI	1991	1995

Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities (1995–1997)

Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service
William F. Goodling	Republican	PA	1995	1997

Committee on Education and the Workforce (1997–2007)

Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service
William F. Goodling	Republican	PA	1997	2001
John Boehner	Republican	OH	2001	2006
Buck McKeon	Republican	CA	2006	2007

Committee on Education and Labor (2007–2011)

Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service
George Miller	Democratic	CA	2007	2011

Committee on Education and the Workforce (2011–2019)

Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service
John Kline	Republican	MN	2011	2017
Virginia Foxx	Republican	NC	2017	2019

Committee on Education and Labor (2019–2023)

Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service
Bobby Scott	Democratic	VA	2019	2023

Committee on Education and the Workforce (2023–2025)

Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service
Virginia Foxx	Republican	NC	2023	2025

Committee on Education and Workforce (2025–present)

Chair	Party	State	Start of service	End of service
Tim Walberg	Republican	MI	2025	present

Historical membership rosters

115th Congress

Majority

Minority

Virginia Foxx, North Carolina, Chair Joe Wilson, South Carolina, Vice Chair Duncan D. Hunter, California Phil Roe, Tennessee Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania Tim Walberg, Michigan Brett Guthrie, Kentucky Todd Rokita, Indiana Lou Barletta, Pennsylvania Luke Messer, Indiana Bradley Byrne, Alabama Dave Brat, Virginia Glenn Grothman, Wisconsin Elise Stefanik, New York Rick W. Allen, Georgia Jason Lewis, Minnesota Francis Rooney, Florida Paul Mitchell, Michigan Tom Garrett, Virginia Lloyd Smucker, Pennsylvania Drew Ferguson, Georgia Ron Estes, Kansas Karen Handel, Georgia

Bobby Scott, Virginia, Ranking Member Susan Davis, California Raúl Grijalva, Arizona Joe Courtney, Connecticut Marcia Fudge, Ohio Jared Polis, Colorado Gregorio Sablan, Northern Mariana Islands8 Frederica Wilson, Florida Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon, Vice Ranking Member Mark Takano, California Alma Adams, North Carolina Mark DeSaulnier, California Donald Norcross, New Jersey Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire Adriano Espaillat, New York

Sources: H.Res. 6 (Chair), H.Res. 7 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 45 (D), H.Res. 51 (R), H.Res. 59 (D), H.Res. 131 (R)

116th Congress

Majority

Minority

Bobby Scott, Virginia, Chair Susan Davis, California Raúl Grijalva, Arizona Joe Courtney, Connecticut Marcia Fudge, Ohio Gregorio Sablan, Northern Mariana Islands9 Frederica Wilson, Florida Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Mark Takano, California Alma Adams, North Carolina Mark DeSaulnier, California Donald Norcross, New Jersey Pramila Jayapal, Washington Joseph Morelle, New York Susan Wild, Pennsylvania Josh Harder, California Lucy McBath, Georgia Kim Schrier, Washington Lauren Underwood, Illinois Jahana Hayes, Connecticut Donna Shalala, Florida Andy Levin, Michigan, Vice Chair Ilhan Omar, Minnesota David Trone, Maryland Haley Stevens, Michigan Susie Lee, Nevada Joaquin Castro, Texas Lori Trahan, Massachusetts

Virginia Foxx, North Carolina, Ranking Member Phil Roe, Tennessee Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania Tim Walberg, Michigan Brett Guthrie, Kentucky Bradley Byrne, Alabama Glenn Grothman, Wisconsin Elise Stefanik, New York Rick W. Allen, Georgia Lloyd Smucker, Pennsylvania Jim Banks, Indiana Mark Walker, North Carolina James Comer, Kentucky Ben Cline, Virginia Russ Fulcher, Idaho Van Taylor, Texas Steve Watkins, Kansas Ron Wright, Texas Dan Meuser, Pennsylvania Dusty Johnson, South Dakota Fred Keller, Pennsylvania (since July 10, 2019) Greg Murphy, North Carolina (since September 26, 2019) Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey (since January 16, 2020)

Sources: H.Res. 24 (Chair), H.Res. 25 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 42 (D), H.Res. 68 (R), H.Res. 73 (D), H.Res. 481 (R), H.Res. 596 (R), H.Res. 801 (R)

Subcommittees

As of 2019[update]:¹⁰

Subcommittee	Chair	Ranking Member
Civil Rights and Human Services	Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)	James Comer (R-KY)
Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education	Gregorio Sablan (I-MP)	Rick W. Allen (R-GA)
Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions	Frederica Wilson (D-FL)	Tim Walberg (R-MI)
Higher Education and Workforce Investment	Susan Davis (D-CA)	Lloyd Smucker (R-PA)
Workforce Protections	Alma Adams (D-NC)	Bradley Byrne (R-AL)

117th Congress

Majority

Minority

Bobby Scott, Virginia, Chair Raúl Grijalva, Arizona Joe Courtney, Connecticut Gregorio Sablan, Northern Mariana Islands Frederica Wilson, Florida Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Mark Takano, California Alma Adams, North Carolina Mark DeSaulnier, California Donald Norcross, New Jersey Pramila Jayapal, Washington Joseph Morelle, New York Susan Wild, Pennsylvania Lucy McBath, Georgia Jahana Hayes, Connecticut Andy Levin, Michigan Ilhan Omar, Minnesota Haley Stevens, Michigan Teresa Leger Fernandez, New Mexico Mondaire Jones, New York Kathy Manning, North Carolina Frank J. Mrvan, Indiana Jamaal Bowman, New York, Vice Chair Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Florida (since February 2, 2022) Mary Peltola, Alaska (since September 29, 2022) Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Joaquin Castro, Texas Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey John Yarmuth, Kentucky Adriano Espaillat, New York Kweisi Mfume, Maryland (since February 11, 2021)

Virginia Foxx, North Carolina, Ranking Member Joe Wilson, South Carolina Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania Tim Walberg, Michigan Glenn Grothman, Wisconsin Elise Stefanik, New York Rick W. Allen, Georgia Jim Banks, Indiana James Comer, Kentucky Russ Fulcher, Idaho Ron Wright, Texas (until February 7, 2021) Fred Keller, Pennsylvania Greg Murphy, North Carolina Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Iowa Michelle Steel, California Burgess Owens, Utah Bob Good, Virginia Lisa McClain, Michigan Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia (until February 4, 2021) Diana Harshbarger, Tennessee Mary Miller, Illinois Victoria Spartz, Indiana Scott L. Fitzgerald, Wisconsin Madison Cawthorn, North Carolina Kelly Armstrong, North Dakota Brad Finstad, Minnesota (since September 13, 2022) Joe Sempolinski, New York (since September 13, 2022)

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 9 (Chair), H.Res. 10 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 62 (D), H.Res. 63 (R), H.Res. 72 (removing Rep. Greene), H.Res. 92 (D), H.Res. 111 (D), H.Res. 311 (R), H.Res. 902 (D), H.Res. 1340 (R), H.Res. 1404 (D)

Subcommittees

Subcommittee11	Chair	Ranking Member
Civil Rights and Human Services	Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)	Russ Fulcher (R-ID)
Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education	Gregorio Sablan (I-MP)	Burgess Owens (R-UT)
Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions	Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)	Rick W. Allen (R-GA)
Higher Education and Workforce Investment	Frederica Wilson (D-FL)	Greg Murphy (R-NC)
Workforce Protections	Alma Adams (D-NC)	Fred Keller (R-PA)

118th Congress

Majority

Minority

Virginia Foxx, North Carolina, Chair Joe Wilson, South Carolina Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania Tim Walberg, Michigan Glenn Grothman, Wisconsin Elise Stefanik, New York Rick Allen, Georgia Jim Banks, Indiana James Comer, Kentucky Lloyd Smucker, Pennsylvania Burgess Owens, Utah Bob Good, Virginia Lisa McClain, Michigan Mary Miller, Illinois Michelle Steel, California Ron Estes, Kansas Julia Letlow, Louisiana Kevin Kiley, California Aaron Bean, Florida Eric Burlison, Missouri Nathaniel Moran, Texas John James, Michigan Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Oregon Brandon Williams, New York Erin Houchin, Indiana

Bobby Scott, Virginia, Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva, Arizona Joe Courtney, Connecticut Gregorio Sablan, Northern Mariana Islands Frederica Wilson, Florida Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Mark Takano, California Alma Adams, North Carolina Mark DeSaulnier, California Donald Norcross, New Jersey Pramila Jayapal, Washington Susan Wild, Pennsylvania Lucy McBath, Georgia Jahana Hayes, Connecticut Ilhan Omar, Minnesota Haley Stevens, Michigan Teresa Leger Fernandez, New Mexico Kathy Manning, North Carolina Frank J. Mrvan, Indiana Jamaal Bowman, New York

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 14 (Chair), H.Res. 15 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 80 (R), H.Res. 87 (D)

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair12	Ranking Member13
Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education	Aaron Bean (R-FL)	Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions	Bob Good (R-VA)	Mark Desaulnier (D-CA)
Higher Education and Workforce Investment	Burgess Owens (R-UT)	Frederica Wilson (D-FL)
Workforce Protections	Kevin Kiley (R-CA)	Alma Adams (D-NC)

See also

• Employee Free Choice Act
• List of current United States House of Representatives committees

External links

• Official homepage (Archive)
• House Education and the Workforce Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.

References

1. Chapter 9. Records of the Committees on Education and Labor, Guide to the Records of the U.S. House of Representatives at the National Archives, 1789-1989 (Record Group 233), National Archives and Records Administration https://www.archives.gov/legislative/guide/house/chapter-09.html ↩

2. Wall Street Journal: Republicans Labor to Avoid ‘Labor’ https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/12/24/republicans-labor-to-avoid-labor/ ↩

3. PBS: There are new House rules under GOP leadership. Here’s a short guide https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/there-are-new-house-rules-under-gop-leadership-heres-a-short-guide ↩

4. "Chairman Walberg Announces Subcommittee Assignments". Committee on Education and Workforce. January 14, 2025. https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=412148 ↩

5. "Ranking Member Scott Welcomes Democratic Committee Members for the 119th Congress". Education and Workforce Committee Democrats. January 14, 2025. https://democrats-edworkforce.house.gov/media/press-releases/ranking-member-scott-welcomes-democratic-committee-members-for-the-119th-congress ↩

6. "Chairman Walberg Announces Subcommittee Assignments". Committee on Education and Workforce. January 14, 2025. https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=412148 ↩

7. "Ranking Member Scott Welcomes Democratic Committee Members for the 119th Congress". Education and Workforce Committee Democrats. January 14, 2025. https://democrats-edworkforce.house.gov/media/press-releases/ranking-member-scott-welcomes-democratic-committee-members-for-the-119th-congress ↩

8. Sablan is an Independent, but caucuses with the Democrats. ↩

9. Sablan is an Independent, but caucuses with the Democrats. ↩

10. "Members, Subcommittees & Jurisdictions" (PDF). Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved January 30, 2019. https://edlabor.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2019-01-29%20Committee%20Roster.pdf ↩

11. "Chairman Scott Statement Announces New Subcommittee and Vice Chairs". Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved February 8, 2021. https://edlabor.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-scott-statement-announces-new-subcommittee-and-vice-chairs ↩

12. "Education And The Workforce Committee Adopts Rules And Oversight Plan For 118th Congress". Committee on Education & the Workforce. January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023. https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=408797 ↩

13. "NEW: 118th Congress Democratic Committee Assignments | Education & The Workforce Committee Democrats". democrats-edworkforce.house.gov. Retrieved February 1, 2023. https://democrats-edworkforce.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-118th-congress-democratic-committee-assignments ↩