The Hill News

Newly-appointed Sen. Carte Goodwin (D-W.Va.) received assignments to the Armed Services, Budget, Rules and Administration Committees on Friday, replacing the vacancies left by the late Sen. Robert Byrd. 

The late senator’s seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee went to Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). Goodwin will take Brown’s spot on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. 

Goodwin will serve in the Senate until a fall special election determines who will serve out the remainder of Byrd’s term, which expires in January 2013. Gov. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has already announced his candidacy. 

Manchin named Goodwin, his former general counsel, to temporarily fill Byrd’s Senate seat last week. After his appointment, Goodwin helped Democrats pass an extension of unemployment benefits.