The Senate Appropriations Committee completed a reorganization of its subcommittees yesterday that mostly, but not entirely, followed plans. The major difference between the final plan and what was reported earlier in the week is that while NASA will be moved from the VA-HUD subcommittee (which will be dissolved) to the Commerce, Justice, and State subcommittee, State will be moved out of that committee. That could cause some problems down the road reconciling the House and Senate versions of appropriations bills, since the House kept State in that subcommittee. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) will chair the new “Commerce, Justice, and Science” subcommittee; there was no formal announcement of who will be the ranking Democrat but every indication was that Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) would get the position.
