California Democrat Howard L. Berman is likely to take over the gavel at the House Foreign Affairs Committee when Chairman Tom Lantos retires at the end of this Congress, according to a senior Democratic source.

Lantos, 79, also a California Democrat, announced Jan. 2 that he would not seek re-election because he has cancer of the esophagus.

Berman, 66, ranks second on Foreign Affairs. His office declined to comment, but several Democratic aides said House Democratic leaders expect him to become chairman if he wants the post and Democrats retain control of the House.

Berman was first elected in 1982 and is now in his 13th term.

Like Lantos, Berman is a strong supporter of Israel, and a liberal trusted by Republicans.

He was an early advocate of sanctions against Saddam Hussein and led efforts to impose sanctions against Iran and Libya in 1996. Though he voted to authorize the Iraq War, he has renounced that support.

Berman also ranks second on the full Judiciary Committee, behind Chairman John Conyers Jr., D-Mich. But Barney Frank, D-Mass., who left Judiciary to chair the House Financial Services Committee, retains his seniority above Berman there. That means Frank could return to take the Judiciary gavel once Conyers steps down.