WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats' decision yesterday to keep Joe Lieberman as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee means Dan Akaka is expected to remain chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in the upcoming Congress.

Akaka, D-Hawai'i, was in line to become homeland security chairman if the position became open.

Lieberman, I-Conn., who caucuses with Democrats, had been under attack for his support of the Republican presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

But the Democratic caucus voted 42-13 to keep Lieberman in the job, while condemning statements he made during the campaign.

"It was a secret ballot, and the vote came out in favor of permitting my friend, Lieberman, to continue as chairman," Akaka said. "He expressed future support to our caucus, which is something we need."

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported Akaka could lose the helm of two subcommittees if Democrats win undecided Senate races.

Senate Democratic leaders will not announce subcommittee chairmanships for several days, perhaps longer, until the outcomes of Senate races are known, said Akaka spokesman Jesse Broder Van Dyke. The unresolved contests are in Minnesota and Georgia.

A third race, for the Alaska Senate seat held by Ted Stevens, was decided yesterday, when Stevens, the longest serving Republican in Senate history, narrowly lost his re-election bid to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich.

NEW RULES

Broder Van Dyke added that the leadership is discussing a rule change, with an eye on the possibility of more Democrats joining the Senate, that would bar members from heading more than one committee and one subcommittee, the Associated Press reported.

Akaka heads the Veterans' Affairs Committee and three smaller panels: the subcommittee on government management and the District of Columbia of the Homeland Security Committee; the subcommittee on national parks of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the subcommittee on readiness of the Armed Services Committee.

The decision by Senate Democrats to delay official announcements of committee chairmanships until after all the races are decided means U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's move to chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced last week, is still unofficial, although certain.

Inouye, who also supported Lieberman, will have to give up his Senate commerce committee chairmanship to take the new position.

'IDEAL POSITION'

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, expects to remain chairman of the House Armed Services air and land forces subcommittee and as a senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

"I'm in an ideal position to watch out for the best interests of Hawai'i as Congress addresses our national security, our energy future and the protection of our environment," Abercrombie said.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai'i, also is expected to retain her seats on the House education and labor, transportation and infrastructure, and small business committees. But House Democrats are still discussing their reorganization for the next Congress and changes are possible.