The mid-term elections of November 2 coupled with retirements of long-term U.S. House of Representatives and Senate members will bring a very different look to the next Congress, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. According to so-called "casualty lists" assessing the members who lost reelection bids, moved on to different office or retired, more than 20 percent of House members and 17 percent of Senate members will be new faces. This high turnover rate will have implications on natural resource related policy issues for the 112th Congress.

Even prior to Election Day, it was apparent that there would be substantial changes in Congress, with 19 Representatives and 11 Senators having announced their retirements. Then, four members of the House and three members of the Senate were defeated in their primary election bid, though one of those Senators, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), appears to have won re-election as a write-in candidate (votes were still being counted as of ONB press time).

On Election Day the loss of incumbents became even more dramatic, as 51 House members and two Senators were defeated. In addition, 11 House members were defeated in their bid for a different office, and seven members (six House, one Senate) were successful in campaigns for other offices four of whom will be going from the House to the Senate. In total, there will be 91 first-term House members and 17 first-term Senate members in the next Congress.

The dramatic changes will be apparent in many key committees that will impact natural resource issues. The House Agriculture Committee lost nearly half of its Democratic members and in the Senate, Chairwoman Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) was defeated. These changes are particularly relevant as the next Congress is expected to craft a new Farm Bill. The House will also see dramatic changes in the Transportation and Infrastructure committee that lost 15 members, including current Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN), affecting deliberations for a new federal Highway bill.

Specific leadership decisions and committee assignments will not be decided until after the new Congress begins, but the substantial turnover of members seems certain to have an impact on natural resource policy issues for the next two years. (jas)