Women Who Have Chaired Congressional Committees, 1923–Present
Through the opening of the 112th Congress, 28 women have chaired congressional committees,
including standing, joint, and select panels. This chronological list includes 18 Representatives
and ten Senators.
House Committees
Congress/Year
112th (2011–
2013)
111th (2009–
2011)
110th (2007–
2009)
Member’s Name
House Committee
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Foreign Affairs
Zoe Lofgren
Standards of Official Conduct
Louise M. Slaughter
Nydia M. Velázquez
Rules
Small Business
Stephanie Tubbs Jones Standards of Official Conduct
Juanita MillenderMcDonald
Louise M. Slaughter
Nydia M. Velázquez
109th (2005–
2007)
108th (2003–
2005)
107th (2001–
2003)
106th (1999–
2001)
105th (1997–
1999)
104th (1995–
1997)
103rd (1993–
1995)
102nd (1991–
1993)
101st (1989–
1991)
100th (1987–
1989)
House Administration
Rules
Small Business
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Nancy L. Johnson
Standards of Official Conduct
Jan L. Meyers
Small Business
N/A
Patricia S. Schroeder
N/A
N/A
Children, Youth, and Families (Select)
Congress/Year
99th (1985–1987)
98th (1983–1985)
97th (1981–1983)
96th (1979–1981)
95th (1977–1979)
94th (1975–1977)
93rd (1973–1975)
92nd (1971–
1973)
91st (1969–1971)
90th (1967–1969)
89th (1965–1967)
88th (1963–1965)
87th (1961–1963)
86th (1959–1961)
85th (1957–1959)
84th (1955–1957)
83rd (1953–1955)
82nd (1951–
1953)
81st (1949–1951)
80th (1947–1949)
79th (1945–1947)
78th (1943–1945)
77th (1941–1943)
Member’s Name
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Yvonne Brathwaite
Burke
Yvonne Brathwaite
Burke
Leonor K. Sullivan
Martha Wright
Griffiths
Leonor K. Sullivan
Martha Wright
Griffiths
Martha Wright
Griffiths
Martha Wright
Griffiths
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Edith Nourse Rogers
House Committee
House Beauty Shop (Select)
House Beauty Shop (Select)
Merchant Marine and Fisheries
House Beauty Shop (Select)
Merchant Marine and Fisheries
House Beauty Shop (Select)
House Beauty Shop (Select)
House Beauty Shop (Select)
Veterans' Affairs
N/A
Mary T. Norton
Edith Nourse Rogers
Mary T. Norton
Mary T. Norton
Mary T. Norton
Mary T. Norton
Caroline O’Day
76th (1939–1941) Mary T. Norton
Caroline O’Day
75th (1937–1939) Mary T. Norton
House Administration
Veterans' Affairs
Labor
Labor
Labor
Memorials
Election of the President, Vice President, and
Representatives in Congress
Labor
Election of the President, Vice President, and
Representatives in Congress
Labor
Congress/Year
Member’s Name
Mary T. Norton
Mary T. Norton
House Committee
Election of the President, Vice President, and
Representatives in Congress
District of Columbia
District of Columbia
Mary T. Norton
District of Columbia
Caroline O’Day
74th (1935–1937)
73rd (1933–1935)
72nd (1931–
1933)
71st (1929–1931)
70th (1927–1929)
69th (1925–1927)
68th (1923–1925)
67th (1921–1923)
66th (1919–1921)
65th (1917–1919)
N/A
N/A
N/A
Mae Ella Nolan
Mae Ella Nolan
N/A
N/A
Expenditures in the Post Office Department
Expenditures in the Post Office Department
Senate Committees
Congress/Year
Member’s Name
112th (2011–2013) Barbara Boxer
Barbara Boxer
Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Feinstein
Mary Landrieu
Patty Murray
Deborah A. Stabenow
111th (2009–2011) Barbara Boxer
Barbara Boxer
Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Feinstein
Mary Landrieu
Blanche Lambert Lincoln
110th (2007–2009) Barbara Boxer
Barbara Boxer
Dianne Feinstein
109th (2005–2007) Susan Margaret Collins
Susan Margaret Collins
Olympia Jean Snowe
108th (2003–2005) Susan Margaret Collins
Olympia Jean Snowe
Senate Committee
Ethics (Select)
Environment and Public Works
Intelligence (Select)
Caucus on International Narcotics Control
Small Business and Entrepeneurship
Veterans
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Ethics (Select)
Environment and Public Works
Intelligence (Select)
Caucus on International Narcotics Control
Small Business and Entrepeneurship
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Ethics (Select)
Environment and Public Works
Rules and Administration
Governmental Affairs
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Small Business and Entrepeneurship
Governmental Affairs
Small Business and Entrepeneurship
Congress/Year
Member’s Name
Senate Committee
104th (1995–1997) Nancy Landon Kassebaum Labor and Human Resources
78th (1943–1945) Hattie Wyatt Caraway
Enrolled Bills
77th (1941–1943) Hattie Wyatt Caraway
Enrolled Bills
76th (1939–1941) Hattie Wyatt Caraway
Enrolled Bills
75th (1937–1939) Hattie Wyatt Caraway
Enrolled Bills
74th (1935–1937) Hattie Wyatt Caraway
Enrolled Bills
73rd (1933–1935) Hattie Wyatt Caraway
Enrolled Bills
Joint Committees
Member’s Name
Joint Committee
Dianne Feinstein
Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
Carolyn B. Maloney
Joint Economic Committee
Dianne Feinstein
Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
Dianne Feinstein
Joint Committee on the Library
107th (2001–
2003)
Dianne Feinstein
Joint Committee on Printing
94th (1975–1977)
Corinne Claiborne (Lindy)
Boggs
Joint Committee on Bicentennial
Arrangements
Congress/Year
111th (2009–
2011)
110th (2007–
2009)