Senate Appropriations panel reshuffles key energy subcommittee assignments

On the other side of the aisle, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) will take over as the ranking Republican on the interior subcommittee. The new position could potentially give her more of an influence over key energy issues.

“Nearly two thirds of Alaska’s land mass is owned or managed by federal land management agencies, so as the ranking member of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee, I will be fighting to ensure that the federal government upholds its commitment to maintain these lands for the benefit of all Alaskans,” Murkowski said in a statement.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), who previously served as the ranking Republican on the interior subcommittee, will join Feinstein on the energy and water subcommittee, where he’ll continue to be the top Republican.

This item has been corrected to reflect that Sen. Dorgan chaired the energy subcommittee in the last Congress.