United States Senate Committee on the Budget facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Senate Budget Committee

Standing committee
Active United States Senate 118th Congress
History
Formed	1974
Leadership
Chair	Sheldon Whitehouse (D) Since January 3, 2023
Ranking member	Chuck Grassley (R) Since January 3, 2023
Structure
Seats	21
Political parties	Majority (11)      Democratic (10)      Independent (1) Minority (10)      Republican (10)
Jurisdiction
Policy areas	Budgetary policy and process, Fiscal policy, Government spending, Public debt, Tax expenditures
Oversight authority	Congressional Budget Office
House counterpart	House Budget Committee
Meeting place
608 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Rules
Rules of the Committee on the Budget

The United States Senate Committee on the Budget is a special group of Senators. They help decide how the U.S. government spends its money. This committee was created in 1974.

Their main job is to create the yearly spending plan for the government. They also keep an eye on how the government uses this plan. The committee works with the Congressional Budget Office. This office gives them important information about the economy.

Currently, Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse leads the committee as the Chair. The main leader from the other political party is Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. He is called the Ranking Member.

Understanding the Budget Committee's Role

The Senate Budget Committee has a very specific job. It focuses on the big picture of the government's money. This includes how much money the government expects to collect and how much it plans to spend.

Budget Committee vs. Other Committees

It's easy to confuse the Budget Committee with other groups in the Senate. But they all have different tasks.

Finance Committee's Job

The Finance Committee handles taxes. They also deal with big programs like Social Security and Medicare. These programs provide money or healthcare to many Americans.

Appropriations Committee's Job

The Appropriations Committee decides how much money specific government programs get. They write bills that give money to different parts of the government.

How They Work Together

The Budget Committee creates a general plan for spending. This plan sets overall limits for how much money can be spent. Then, the Finance and Appropriations Committees fill in the details. They decide exactly where the money comes from (taxes) and where it goes (specific programs).

Who is on the Committee Now?

The Senate Budget Committee has members from different political parties. They work together to create the government's budget plan.

Members of the 118th Congress

The 118th Congress started in January 2023. Here are the Senators who are part of the Budget Committee:

Leaders of the Committee Over Time

The person who leads the Senate Budget Committee is called the Chair. This role changes over the years as new Senators are elected or committee assignments shift.

Past Chairs of the Committee (1975–Present)

Here is a list of the Senators who have led the Budget Committee since it became a permanent group.