Warren named to top Dem spot on Banking panel

by Peter Schroeder - 01/23/15 1:22 PM ET

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is climbing the ranks of the Senate Banking Committee, and will now be the top Democrat on a key subcommittee.

Warren will face off against Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) at the top of the panel’s Economic Policy Subcommittee, according to a Friday announcement from Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the overall committee’s ranking Democrat.

{mosads}Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) takes control as Banking chairman in the new Congress, after Republicans took control of the Senate.

Warren’s subcommittee covers a broad jurisdiction, including monetary policy, economic growth, small-business lending and currency and coinage.

But bank regulation, Warren’s main area of interest, is spread across several subcommittees.

The move could give Warren a slightly bigger platform, although the noted bank critic was already commanding significant attention as a committee bank bencher and a freshman lawmaker.

Here’s a breakdown of the rest of the Banking panel’s subcommittee leadership:

Housing, Transportation, and Community Development

Chairman: Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)

Ranking member: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)

Financial Institutions and Consumer Protections

Chairman: Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.)

Ranking member: Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)

Securities, Insurance, and Investment

Chairman: Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)

Ranking member: Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.)

National Security and International Trade and Finance

Chairman: Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.)