Sens. Scott, Cruz, Fischer join Senate transportation panel

By Keith Laing - 01/03/13 01:59 PM ET

Newly inaugurated Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) are joining the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, GOP officials announced this week.

Scott and Cruz will be joined by Sens. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) as new minority members of the panel that handles transportation legislation in the upper chamber.

Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) will be leaving the panel to join other committees.

Democrats, who control the upper chamber, have announced that the Commerce Committee will continue to be helmed by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.).

Cruz and Fischer were both elected in last November's elections, taken over seats that were being vacated by retiring Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) respectively. Scott was appointed to the Senate last month after former South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint (R) resigned from the chamber.

GOP leaders also announced that Fisher and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) would be joining the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, while Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) would be leaving the panel.

-This post was updated with new information at 2:31 p.m.