United States Senate Committee on Armed Services

The Committee on Armed Services (sometimes abbreviated SASC for Senate Armed Services Committee) is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the Department of Defense, military research and development, nuclear energy (as pertaining to national security), benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System and other matters related to defense policy. The Armed Services Committee was created as a result of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 following the U.S. victory in the Second World War. The bill merged the responsibilities of the Committee on Naval Affairs (established in 1816) and the Committee on Military Affairs (also established in 1816).

Senate Armed Services Committee
Standing committee
Active

United States Senate
118th Congress
History
FormedJanuary 2, 1947
Leadership
ChairJack Reed (D)
Since February 3, 2021
Ranking memberRoger Wicker (R)
Since January 3, 2023
Structure
Seats25 members
Political partiesMajority (13)
  •   Democratic (12)
  •   Independent (1)
Minority (12)
Jurisdiction
Policy areasDefense policy, military operations
Oversight authorityDepartment of Defense, Armed Forces
House counterpartHouse Armed Services Committee
Website
www.armed-services.senate.gov

    Considered one of the most powerful Senate committees, its broad mandate allowed it to report some of the most extensive and revolutionary legislation during the Cold War years, including the National Security Act of 1947. The committee tends to take a more bipartisan approach than other committees, as many of its members formerly served in the military or have major defense interests located in the states they come from. The committee's regular legislative product is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which has been passed by Congress and signed into law each year since 1962.

    The current chair is Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and the Ranking Member is Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi (2023).

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