Committee Assignments

Senator Durbin serves on the following committees in the 112th Congress:

Appropriations Committee

• Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Chairman
• Subcommittee on Defense
• Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
• Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education
• Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations
• Subcommittee on Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies

Judiciary

• Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, Chairman
• Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism
• Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security

Foreign Relations

Rules and Administration

Understanding the Committee Structure

Due to the high volume and complexity of its work, the Senate divides its tasks among 20 committees, dozens of subcommittees, and 4 joint committees.

Standing committees generally have legislative jurisdiction. Subcommittees handle specific areas of the committee's work. Select and joint committees generally handle oversight or housekeeping responsibilities.

Each party assigns its own members to committees, and each committee distributes its members among its subcommittees. The Senate places limits on the number and types of panels any one senator may serve on and chair (for detailed information about the Senate committee structure click here).