Big changes are coming for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in the new Congress. Most of the shifts are sparked by incoming Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who will head the panel thanks to her party's newly won Senate majority. She's expected to pursue a much more pro-environment agenda than the one followed by outgoing chairman James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.). Boxer also is expanding the number of subcommittees from four to six, including three with jurisdiction over air pollution issues.
There's a battle looming on the Republican side, too. Inhofe is being challenged by long-time committee member John W. Warner (Va.) over who will be the EPW panel's ranking GOP member.