What is the Senate Armed Services Committee?

A committee of the U.S. Senate that oversees the military and defense policy.

Created in 1946, the Senate Armed Services Committee has legislative oversight on the U.S. departments of Defense, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force; military research and development; military uses of nuclear energy; pay and benefits for members of the military, among other things.

Because North Carolina is home to the Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point Marine stations, Pope and Seymour Johnson Air Force bases and the Fort Bragg Army base, the committee is often sought after by the state's U.S. senators.

Former Sen. Elizabeth Dole sat on the committee.

In 2009, Sen. Kay Hagan was named to the Democratic majority on the committee. Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, is also a member.