United States Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
The United States Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee (DSOC) is a committee of the United States Senate dedicated to fostering dialogue between Senate Democrats and community leaders across the United States. The Steering Committee hosts several meetings each year with advocates, activists, policy experts, and elected officials to help the structuring of the Democrats' agenda in the United States Senate.[1] Some of these meetings also happen annually such as with U.S. Jewish groups to discuss the U.S. Israel relations and the Jewish community in the United States.[2]
Members, 118th Congress
[edit]| Roster[3] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Senator | State | |
| Amy Klobuchar, Steering Chair | Minnesota | |
| Jeanne Shaheen, Steering Vice Chair | New Hampshire | |
| Bernie Sanders, Outreach Chair | Vermont | |
| Catherine Cortez Masto, Outreach Vice Chair | Nevada | |
| Chuck Schumer | New York | |
| Dick Durbin | Illinois | |
| Kirsten Gillibrand | New York | |
| Chris Coons | Delaware | |
| Bob Casey, Jr. | Pennsylvania | |
| Jon Tester | Montana | |
| Brian Schatz | Hawaii | |
| Tammy Baldwin | Wisconsin | |
| Chris Murphy | Connecticut | |
| Robert Menendez, Chair of Hispanic Task Force (until August 20, 2024) |
New Jersey | |
Historical Committee Rosters
[edit]![[icon]](/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2021) |
117th Congress
[edit]| Roster[4] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Senator | State | |
| Amy Klobuchar, Steering Chair | Minnesota | |
| Jeanne Shaheen, Steering Vice Chair | New Hampshire | |
| Bernie Sanders, Outreach Chair | Vermont | |
| Catherine Cortez Masto, Outreach Vice Chair | Nevada | |
| Chuck Schumer | New York | |
| Dick Durbin | Illinois | |
| Patrick Leahy | Vermont | |
| Kirsten Gillibrand | New York | |
| Chris Coons | Delaware | |
| Bob Casey, Jr. | Pennsylvania | |
| Jon Tester | Montana | |
| Brian Schatz | Hawaii | |
| Tammy Baldwin | Wisconsin | |
| Chris Murphy | Connecticut | |
| Robert Menendez, Chair of Hispanic Task Force | New Jersey | |
116th Congress
[edit]After Bill Nelson lost his 2018 reelection bid,[5] he left the committee and his position was left unfilled.
| Roster[6] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Senator | State | |
| Amy Klobuchar, Chair | Minnesota | |
| Jeanne Shaheen, Vice Chair | New Hampshire | |
| Chuck Schumer | New York | |
| Dick Durbin | Illinois | |
| Patrick Leahy | Vermont | |
| Kirsten Gillibrand | New York | |
| Chris Coons | Delaware | |
| Bob Casey, Jr. | Pennsylvania | |
| Jon Tester | Montana | |
| Brian Schatz | Hawaii | |
| Tammy Baldwin | Wisconsin | |
| Robert Menendez, Chair of Hispanic Task Force | New Jersey | |
115th Congress
[edit]| Roster[7] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Senator | State | |
| Amy Klobuchar, Steering Chair | Minnesota | |
| Bernie Sanders, Outreach Chair | Vermont | |
| Jeanne Shaheen, Vice Chair | New Hampshire | |
| Chuck Schumer | New York | |
| Dick Durbin | Illinois | |
| Patrick Leahy | Vermont | |
| Kirsten Gillibrand | New York | |
| Chris Coons, Chair of Business Outreach | Delaware | |
| Bill Nelson | Florida | |
| Bob Casey, Jr. | Pennsylvania | |
| Jon Tester | Montana | |
| Brian Schatz | Hawaii | |
| Tammy Baldwin | Wisconsin | |
| Bob Menendez, Chair of Hispanic Task Force | New Jersey | |
Chairpersons
[edit]| Leadership | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Senator | State | Ref. | ||||
| 108th | Hillary Clinton | New York | |||||
| 109th | Hillary Clinton | New York | |||||
| 110th | Debbie Stabenow | Michigan | |||||
| 111th | Debbie Stabenow | Michigan | |||||
| 112th | Mark Begich | Alaska | |||||
| 113th | Mark Begich | Alaska | |||||
| 114th | Amy Klobuchar | Minnesota | |||||
| Steering | Outreach | ||||||
| Term | Senator | State | Senator | State | Ref. | ||
| 115th | Amy Klobuchar | Minnesota | Bernie Sanders | Vermont | [7][8] | ||
| 116th | Amy Klobuchar | Minnesota | Bernie Sanders | Vermont | |||
| 117th | Amy Klobuchar | Minnesota | Bernie Sanders | Vermont | [6][8] | ||
| 118th | Amy Klobuchar | Minnesota | Bernie Sanders | Vermont | |||
| 119th | Amy Klobuchar | Minnesota | Bernie Sanders | Vermont | |||
History
[edit] | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2021) |
In November 2008, following that year's presidential election, the committee, whose responsibilities include proposing chairmanships and committee assignments to be ratified by the Democratic caucus, considered stripping Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman of his Chairmanship of the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs after he endorsed Republican senator John McCain in his 2008 presidential campaign. Many within the caucus expressed disappointment over his fervent support for McCain and his questioning of then-Democratic senator Barack Obama's qualifications to run for the position.[9] Ultimately, the caucus voted 42–13 to allow Lieberman to retain his chairmanship while sanctioning him to be removed from the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.[10]
In November 2016, after Democrat Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 United States presidential election, then-Senate Democratic Leader-elect Chuck Schumer announced Bernie Sanders would fill the newly established position of Outreach Chair in the committee. Sanders came to prominence during the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries and his appointment was seen as a broader acknowledgment of his role in galvanizing the electorate. This made Sanders the first independent to hold a leadership position within the Democratic Party.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee | Senate Democratic Leadership". www.democrats.senate.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ Rod, Marc (December 1, 2022). "Senate Democrats discuss U.S.-Israel ties, domestic antisemitism with Jewish leaders". Jewish Insider. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ "Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee". Senate Democrats.
- ^ "Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee". Senate Democrats. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- ^ Merica, Dan; Krieg, Gregory (November 19, 2018). "Bill Nelson concedes Florida Senate race to Rick Scott". CNN. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee". Senate Democrats. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee". Senate Democrats. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c Gaudiano, Nicole (November 17, 2016). "Senate Democrats tap Bernie Sanders to lead outreach". USA Today. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Herszenhorn, David (November 7, 2008). "Among Democrats' Leadership Questions - What to Do With Lieberman?". The New York Times. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
- ^ Welna, David (November 19, 2008). "Lieberman Gets To Keep Committee Chairmanship". NPR. Retrieved March 6, 2021.