Dan Carden

Indiana's two U.S. senators will be at the center of key debates next year on national security, taxes, education and commerce, among other issues, through their work on Senate committees.

Committees are a vital part of the American lawmaking process because they allow a small group of senators to work together to craft, revise and debate proposed new laws before the full chamber makes final revisions and decides whether to advance the legislation.

Senate committees also assess the credentials of the president's nominees to lead federal agencies or sit on federal courts, and through their questioning may determine whether the full Senate ultimately advises and consents to the nominee's appointment.

Beginning Jan. 3, two-term U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., will sit on the 17-member Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

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The Intelligence Committee is tasked with overseeing the intelligence activities and programs of the United States and providing vigilant legislative oversight to ensure those activities conform to the U.S. Constitution.

"As a former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer, I have a deep appreciation for our dedicated intelligence professionals and the importance of unbiased intelligence to our national security. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the committee to ensure policymakers are receiving the best intelligence possible as they make critical decisions," Young said.

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Two of Young's recent predecessors, former U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., and former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., also served on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Coats later was U.S. Director of National Intelligence from 2017 to 2019, while Bayh currently is a member of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board.

In addition to his new seat on the Intelligence Committee, Young will remain a member of the a member of the tax-writing Senate Committee on Finance; the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

"I'm honored to continue my work on these committees to tackle the issues most important to Hoosiers, including stimulating economic growth, reducing costs for families and ensuring America maintains global leadership in technology," Young said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen.-elect Jim Banks, R-Ind., has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Armed Services; the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; and the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs -- mirroring some of the work Banks did during his four terms in the U.S. House.

"Since my first day in Congress, strengthening our national defense and taking care of our nation's veterans have been two of my top priorities and I am grateful to continue that work in the United States Senate," Banks said.

"I look forward to working with President Trump on these important issues and that starts with confirming his cabinet secretaries right away. I'm honored to be a voice for the hundreds of thousands Hoosier veterans and service members and I will always fight for Indiana first."

Gallery: Indiana historical markers in the Region First Physician Great Sauk (Sac) Trail St. John's Lutheran Church Tolleston Dutch in the Calumet Region St. John Township School, District #2 The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section Froebel School - side 1 Froebel School Stewart Settlement House Stewart Settlement House Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Bailly Homestead Iron Brigade Willow Creek Confrontation Ogden ski jump.jpg Teale 1.jpg Teale 2.jpg Steel 1.jpg Steel 2.jpg Civil War camps.jpg Old lighthouse.jpg Railroad.jpg Camp Anderson.jpg Boundary line 1.jpg Boundary line 2.jpg LaPorte courthouse 1.jpg LaPorte courthouse 2.jpg Carnegie 1.jpg Carnegie 2.jpg Rumely Co 1.jpg Rumely Co 2.jpg Lincoln train 1.jpg Lincoln train 2.jpg LaPorte university 1.jpg Laporte university 2.jpg Gary Roosevelt 1 Gary Roosevelt 2 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1.jpg Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 2.jpg Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Dan Carden

Chief Political Reporter

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