Something

<p><label for="committee_id">Committee</label><br/>
<select id="committee_id" name="committee[committee_id]">
  <% @senate_committees.each do |committee| %>
  <option value="<%= committee.id %>">
  <%= committee.name %>
  </option>
  <% end %>
</select>

from admin_controller.rb__
  def edit
    if request.get?  #only do this if the user is requesting the page, not submitting the form
      @project = Project.find(params[:id])
      @senate_committees = Committee.find_by_sql("select name, id from committees$
  else
      #code here to find the appropriate record you are trying to update
      if @record.update_attributes(params[:record])
         #success
      else
         #failure
      end
  end
end