Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was sworn in this morning in Washington, D.C. Rep. Don Young was also sworn in for his 23rd term, 45 year to begin in March.
Along with that comes changes in seniority. Murkowski is now 25th in seniority in the Senate, and is moving into Sen. Ted Stevens’ old office this month, which was occupied most recently by retired Sen. Harry Reid, a longtime foe of Alaska’s economy. Her new room assignment will be 522 in the Hart Building.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, who did not need to be sworn in this year, rises to 92nd or 93rd in seniority, depending on whether Sen. Jeff Sessions takes the job of U.S. Attorney General.
Murkowski retained assignments on these committees: Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Appropriations Committee, Indian Affairs, and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Sullivan retained his committees as well: Armed Services; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Veterans’ Affairs.
Committee chairs will be selected by a vote of the members and then ratified by the Senate Republican Conference.
Young started the day strong by introducing 38 bills, some of which had languished in the 114th Congress, including reauthorizing the Magnuson Stevens Act, reforming the Antiquities Act, opening Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to limited resource development, and reducing burdensome federal regulations.
Young is the longest serving House Republican and 2nd longest serving overall member of the House.
House committees will be named later this month.