The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging was initially established in 1961 as a temporary committee, and becaming a permanent committee in 1977. As a special committee, it has no legislative authority, but it studies issues related to older Americans, particularly Medicare and Social Security.

Members

The chairman of the committee is Republican Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon. The ranking Democratic member is Herb Kohl of Wisconsin. The members of the Committee are:

• Gordon Smith (R-Oregon), chairman
• Richard Shelby (R-Alabama)
• Susan Collins (R-Maine)
• Jim Talent (R-Missouri)
• Elizabeth Dole (R-North Carolina)
• Mel Martinez (R-Florida)
• Larry Craig (R-Idaho)
• Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania)
• Conrad Burns (R-Montana)
• Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee)
• Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina)
• Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin), ranking minority member
• Jim Jeffords (I-Vermont)
• Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin)
• Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)
• Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas)
• Evan Bayh (D-Indiana)
• Thomas Carper (D-Deelaware)
• Bill Nelson (D-Florida)
• Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York)

See Also