The United States House Committee on Education and Workforce (also known as Committee on Education and the Workforce) is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. There are 45 members of this committee. Since 2025, the chair of the Education and Workforce committee is Republican Tim Walberg of Michigan.
| Standing committee | |
|---|---|
United States House of Representatives 119th Congress | |
Committee logo from 2023–2025 | |
| History | |
| Formed | March 21, 1867 |
| Formerly known as |
|
| Leadership | |
| Chair | Tim Walberg (R) Since January 3, 2025 |
| Ranking Member | Bobby Scott (D) Since January 3, 2023 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 45 members |
| Political parties | Majority (25)
|
| Website | |
| edworkforce democrats-edworkforce | |
History of the committee
editAttempts 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
editOn 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.[citation needed] 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]
Jurisdiction
editEducation policy
edit- Elementary and secondary education initiatives including the Every Student Succeeds Act, school choice for low-income families, special education (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and teacher quality and education
- Postsecondary education programs, including the Higher Education Act, which supports college access for low- and middle-income students and helps families pay for college;
- Workforce development and skills development activities and adult education, and workforce development initiatives, including those under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which help local communities reskill and upskill workers;
- Early childhood care and preschool education programs, including Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant;
- Career and technical education programs;
- School lunch and child nutrition programs;
- Programs for the care and treatment of at-risk youth, child abuse prevention, and adoption;
- Programs for older Americans;
- Educational research and improvement;
- Work requirements under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and other federal programs;
- Adolescent development programs, including but not limited to those providing for the care and treatment of certain at-risk youth, including the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and
- Anti-poverty programs, including the Community Services Block Grant Act and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Workforce policy
edit- Pensions, health care, and other employer-sponsored benefits covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA);
- Application of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to collective bargaining and union representation;
- Occupational safety and health and mine safety;
- Unpaid, job-protected leave as outlined in the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), as well as "comp time" or family friendly work schedules;
- Equal employment opportunity and civil rights in employment, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
- Various temporary worker programs under the Immigration and Nationality Act;
- Wage and hour requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA);
- Prevailing wage requirements for federal contractors under the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act;
- Workers' compensation for federal employees, energy employees, longshore and harbor employees, and individuals affected by black lung disease; and
- Matters dealing with employer and employee relations, as well as union transparency (the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act).
Members, 119th Congress
edit| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
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), H.Res. 430 (Ansari), H.Res. 887 (Grijalva), H.Res. 1176 (Kiley)
Subcommittees
edit| Subcommittee | Chair[4] | Ranking Member[6] |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education | Kevin Kiley (R-CA) (until March 18, 2026)[7] | 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) |
Leadership
editThe committee keeps a record of party leadership for all its predecessors, including the ranking minority members.[8]
Committee on Education and Labor (1867–1883)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jehu Baker | Republican | IL | 1867 | 1860 |
| Samuel Cary | Republican | OH | 1869 | |
| Samuel Arnell | Republican | TN | 1869 | 1871 |
| Legrand W. Perce | Republican | MS | 1871 | 1873 |
| James Monroe | Republican | OH | 1873 | 1875 |
| Gilbert 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 (1883–1947)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Wyatt Aiken | Democratic | SC | 1883 | 1887 |
| Allen D. Candler | Democratic | GA | 1887 | 1889 |
| James O'Donnell | Republican | MI | 1889 | 1891 |
| Walter I. Hayes | Democratic | IA | 1891 | 1892 |
| David B. Brunner | Democratic | PA | 1892 | |
| Benjamin A. Enloe | Democratic | TN | 1892 | 1895 |
| Galusha A. Grow | Republican | PA | 1895 | 1903 |
| George N. Southwick | Republican | NY | 1903 | 1909 |
| James Burke | Republican | PA | 1909 | 1911 |
| Frank Lever | Democratic | SC | 1911 | 1913 |
| Dudley Hughes | Democratic | GA | 1913 | 1917 |
| William J. Sears | Democratic | FL | 1917 | 1919 |
| Simeon D. Fess | Republican | OH | 1919 | 1923 |
| Frederick W. Dallinger | Republican | MA | 1923 | 1925 |
| Daniel Reed | Republican | NY | 1925 | 1931 |
| John J. Douglass | Democratic | MA | 1931 | 1935 |
| Vincent Palmisano | Democratic | MD | 1935 | 1937 |
| William Larrabee | Democratic | IN | 1937 | 1943 |
| Graham Barden | Democratic | NC | 1943 | 1947 |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David A. De Armond | Democrat | MO | 1889 | 1903 |
| Willard Vandiver | Democratic | MO | 1903 | 1905 |
| Edwin Y. Webb | Democratic | NC | 1905 | 1907 |
| Frank Lever | Democratic | SC | 1907 | 1911 |
| James Burke | Republican | PA | 1911 | 1915 |
| Caleb Powers | Republican | KY | 1915 | 1919 |
| William J. Sears | Democratic | FL | 1919 | 1921 |
| William B. Bankhead | Democratic | AL | 1921 | 1923 |
| Bill G. Lowrey | Democratic | MS | 1923 | 1929 |
| Loring M. Black Jr. | Democratic | NY | 1929 | 1931 |
| Daniel Reed | Republican | NY | 1931 | 1933 |
| James L. Whitley | Republican | NY | 1933 | 1935 |
| Albert E. Carter | Republican | CA | 1935 | 1937 |
| George Dondero | Republican | MI | 1937 | 1947 |
Committee on Labor (1883–1947)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Hopkins | Democratic | PA | 1883 | 1885 |
| John O'Neill | Democratic | MO | 1885 | 1889 |
| William H. Wade | Republican | MO | 1889 | 1891 |
| John Tarsney | Democratic | MO | 1891 | 1893 |
| Lawrence E. McGann | Democratic | IL | 1893 | 1895 |
| Thomas Phillips | Republican | PA | 1895 | 1897 |
| John J. Gardner | Republican | NJ | 1897 | 1911 |
| William Wilson | Democratic | PA | 1911 | 1913 |
| David Lewis | Democratic | MD | 1913 | 1917 |
| James P. Maher | Democratic | NY | 1917 | 1919 |
| John M. C. Smith | Republican | MI | 1919 | 1921 |
| John I. Nolan | Republican | CA | 1921 | 1922 |
| Frederick Zihlman | Republican | MD | 1922 | 1925 |
| William F. Kopp | Republican | IA | 1925 | 1930 |
| Richard Welch | Republican | CA | 1930 | 1931 |
| William P. Connery Jr. | Democratic | MA | 1931 | 1937 |
| Mary Teresa Norton | Democratic | NJ | 1937 | 1947 |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper Talbert | Democratic | SC | 1889 | 1903 |
| Ben F. Caldwell | Democratic | IL | 1903 | 1905 |
| William Randolph Hearst | Democratic | NY | 1905 | 1907 |
| Henry T. Rainey | Democratic | IL | 1907 | 1911 |
| John J. Gardner | Republican | NJ | 1911 | 1913 |
| John M. C. Smith | Republican | MI | 1913 | 1919 |
| James P. Maher | Democratic | NY | 1919 | 1921 |
| Eugene Black | Democratic | TX | 1921 | 1923 |
| William D. Upshaw | Democratic | GA | 1923 | 1927 |
| William P. Connery Jr. | Democratic | MA | 1927 | 1931 |
| Richard Welch | Republican | CA | 1931 | 1947 |
Committee on Education and Labor (1947–1995)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Hartley | Republican | NJ | 1947 | 1949 |
| John Lesinski | Democratic | MI | 1949 | 1950 |
| Graham Barden | Democratic | NC | 1950 | 1953 |
| Samuel McConnell | Republican | PA | 1953 | 1955 |
| Graham Barden | Democratic | NC | 1955 | 1961 |
| Adam Clayton Powell | Democratic | NY | 1961 | 1967 |
| Carl D. Perkins | Democratic | KY | 1967 | 1984 |
| Augustus Hawkins | Democratic | CA | 1984 | 1991 |
| William D. Ford | Democratic | MI | 1991 | 1995 |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lesinski | Democratic | MI | 1947 | 1949 |
| Samuel McConnell | Republican | PA | 1949 | 1953 |
| Graham Barden | Democratic | NC | 1953 | 1955 |
| Samuel McConnell | Republican | PA | 1955 | 1957 |
| Ralph W. Gwinn | Republican | NY | 1957 | 1959 |
| Carroll D. Kearns | Republican | PA | 1959 | 1963 |
| Peter Frelinghuysen | Republican | NJ | 1963 | 1965 |
| William Ayres | Republican | OH | 1965 | 1971 |
| Al Quie | Republican | MN | 1971 | 1979 |
| John M. Ashbrook | Republican | OH | 1979 | 1982 |
| John N. Erlenborn | Republican | IL | 1982 | 1985 |
| Jim Jeffords | Republican | VT | 1985 | 1989 |
| Bill Goodling | Republican | PA | 1989 | 1995 |
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities (1995–1997)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Goodling | Republican | PA | 1995 | 1997 |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Clay | Democratic | MO | 1995 | 1997 |
Committee on Education and the Workforce (1997–2007)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Goodling | Republican | PA | 1997 | 2001 |
| John Boehner | Republican | OH | 2001 | 2006 |
| Buck McKeon | Republican | CA | 2006 | 2007 |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Clay | Democratic | MO | 1997 | 2001 |
| George Miller | Democratic | CA | 2001 | 2007 |
Committee on Education and Labor (2007–2011)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Miller | Democratic | CA | 2007 | 2011 |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buck McKeon | Republican | CA | 2007 | 2009 |
| John Kline | Republican | MI | 2009 | 2011 |
Committee on Education and the Workforce (2011–2019)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Kline | Republican | MN | 2011 | 2017 |
| Virginia Foxx | Republican | NC | 2017 | 2019 |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Miller | Democratic | CA | 2011 | 2015 |
| Bobby Scott | Democratic | VA | 2015 | 2019 |
Committee on Education and Labor (2019–2023)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Scott | Democratic | VA | 2019 | 2023 |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Foxx | Republican | NC | 2019 | 2023 |
Committee on Education and the Workforce (2023–2025)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Foxx | Republican | NC | 2023 | 2025 |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Scott | Democratic | VA | 2023 | 2025 |
Committee on Education and Workforce (2025–present)
edit| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Walberg | Republican | MI | 2025 | present |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Scott | Democratic | VA | 2025 | present |
Historical membership rosters
edit115th Congress
edit| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
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
edit| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
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
| 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
edit| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
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
| Subcommittee[12] | 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
edit| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 14 (Chair), H.Res. 15 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 80 (R), H.Res. 87 (D)
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair[13] | Ranking Member[14] |
|---|---|---|
| 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
editReferences
edit- ↑ 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
- ↑ Wall Street Journal: Republicans Labor to Avoid ‘Labor’
- ↑ PBS: There are new House rules under GOP leadership. Here’s a short guide
- 1 2 "Chairman Walberg Announces Subcommittee Assignments". Committee on Education and Workforce. January 14, 2025.
- ↑ Rep. Kiley left the Republican party and conference on March 9, 2026. On March 18, pursuant to the House rules, his committee assignments were voided. He was reappointed to his committees on April 15, 2026.
- 1 2 "Ranking Member Scott Welcomes Democratic Committee Members for the 119th Congress". Education and Workforce Committee Democrats. January 14, 2025.
- ↑ @HouseDailyPress (March 18, 2026). "The Clerk also read letters to @SpeakerJohnson from Committee Chairs @RepWalberg (Education and Workforce), @RepSamGraves (Transportation and Infrastructure) and @Jim_Jordan (Judiciary), stating that @RepKiley's membership on these committees has been automatically vacated, pursuant to Clause 5B of Rule 10" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ https://democrats-edworkforce.house.gov/about/history
- ↑ Sablan is an Independent, but caucuses with the Democrats.
- ↑ Sablan is an Independent, but caucuses with the Democrats.
- ↑ "Members, Subcommittees & Jurisdictions" (PDF). Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
- ↑ "Chairman Scott Statement Announces New Subcommittee and Vice Chairs". Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "NEW: 118th Congress Democratic Committee Assignments | Education & The Workforce Committee Democrats". democrats-edworkforce.house.gov. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
External links
edit- Official homepage (Archive)
- House Education and the Workforce Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.