Countess: National Library Legislative Day 2018: U.S. Congressional Committee Assignments (AL Membership)

U.S. Senate

Appropriations Committee Jurisdiction The Senate Appropriations Committee is the largest committee in the U.S. Senate, consisting of 30 members in the 114th Congress. Its role is defined by the U.S. Constitution, which requires "appropriations made by law" prior to the expenditure of any money from the Federal treasury. The Committee, chaired by Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. Appropriations are generally limited to the levels set by a Budget Resolution drafted by the Senate Budget Committee. Twelve subcommittees are tasked with drafting legislation to allocate funds to government agencies within their jurisdictions. These subcommittees are responsible for reviewing the President's budget request, hearing testimony from government officials and other witnesses, and drafting the spending plans for the coming fiscal year. Their work is passed on to the full Senate Appropriations Committee, which may review and modify the bills and approve them for consideration by the full Senate. The Committee is also responsible for supplemental spending bills, which are sometimes needed in the middle of a fiscal year to compensate for emergency expenses. The Senate Appropriations Committee is located in S-128 of the Capitol, with subcommittee offices located in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Extracts From the Standing Rules of The Senate Rule XXV, Standing Committees 1. The following standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of each Congress and shall continue and have the power to act until their successors are appointed, with leave to report by bill or otherwise on matters within their jurisdictions: (d)(1) Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, to which committee shall by referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials and other matters relating to the following subjects: Banks, banking, and financial institutions. Control of prices of commodities, rents and services. Deposit insurance. Economic stabilization and defense production. Export and foreign trade promotion. Export controls. Federal monetary policy, including the Federal Reserve System. Financial aid to commerce and industry. Issuance and redemption of notes. Money and credit, including currency and coinage. Nursing home construction. Public and private housing (including veterans housing). Renegotiation of Government contracts. Urban development and urban mass transit. (2) Such Committee shall also study and review on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to international economic policy as it affects United States monetary affairs, credit, and financial institutions; economic growth, urban affairs, and credit, and report thereon from time to time.
Environment and Public Works Jurisdiction Rule XXV, Standing Rules of the Senate 1. The following standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of each Congress, and shall continue and have the power to act until their successors are appointed, with leave to report by bill or otherwise on matters within their respective jurisdictions: (h)(1) Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects: Air pollution. Construction and maintenance of highways. Environmental aspects of Outer Continental Shelf lands. Environmental effects of toxic substances, other than pesticides. Environmental policy. Environmental research and development. Fisheries and wildlife. Flood control and improvements of rivers and harbors, including environmental aspects of deepwater ports. Noise pollution. Nonmilitary environmental regulation and control of nuclear energy. Ocean dumping. Public buildings and improved grounds of the United States generally, including Federal buildings in the District of Columbia. Public works, bridges, and dams. Regional economic development. Solid waste disposal and recycling. Water pollution. Water resources. (2) Such committee shall also study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to environmental protection and resource utilization and conservation, and report thereon from time to time.
Rules and Administration PURPOSE AND JURISDICTION (Taken from the Standing Rules of the Senate: Rule 25.1.n) (1) Committee on Rules and Administration, to which committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects: (A) Administration of the Senate Office Buildings and the Senate wing of the Capitol, including the assignment of office space. (B) Congressional organization relative to rules and procedures, and Senate rules and regulations, including floor and gallery rules. (C) Corrupt practices. (D) Credentials and qualifications of Members of the Senate, contested elections, and acceptance of incompatible offices. (E) Federal elections generally, including the election of the President, Vice President, and Members of the Congress. (F) Government Printing Office, and the printing and correction of the Congressional Record, as well as those matters provided for under rule XI. (G) Meetings of the Congress and attendance of Members. (H) Payment of money out of the contingent fund of the Senate or creating a charge upon the same (except that any resolution relating to substantive matter within the jurisdiction of any other standing committee of the Senate shall be first referred to such committee). (I) Presidential succession. (J) Purchase of books and manuscripts and erection of monuments to the memory of individuals. (K) Senate Library and statuary, art, and pictures in the Capitol and Senate Office Buildings. (L) Services to the Senate, including the Senate restaurant. (M) United States Capitol and congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution (and the incorporation of similar institutions), and the Botanic Gardens. (2) Such committee shall also - (A) make a continuing study of the organization and operation of the Congress of the United States and shall recommend improvements in such organization and operation with a view toward strengthening the Congress, simplifying its operations, improving its relationships with other branches of the United States Government, and enabling it better to meet its responsibilities under the Constitution of the United States; and (B) identify any court proceeding or action which, in the opinion of the Committee, is of vital interest to the Congress as a constitutionally established institution of the Federal Government and call such proceeding or action to the attention of the Senate. (C) develop, implement, and update as necessary a strategic planning process and a strategic plan for the functional and technical infrastructure support of the Senate and provide oversight over plans developed by Senate officers and others in accordance with the strategic planning process.
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) The United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions has broad jurisdiction over our country's health care, education, employment and retirement policies. The Committee is led by Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA).
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs The United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is the chief oversight committee of the U.S. Senate. Formerly known as the Committee on Governmental Affairs, it took on primary oversight responsibility for the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. The Committee is led by Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Ranking Member Claire McCaskill (D-MO).
Special Committee on Aging The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging has served as a focal point in the Senate for discussion and debate on matters relating to older Americans. In addition, the Committee publishes materials of assistance to those interested in public policies which relate to the elderly. The Committee is led by Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Bob Casey (D-PA).

U.S. House of Representatives

Agriculature JURISDICTION Rules of the House of Representatives Rule X Establishment and Jurisdiction of Standing Committees There shall be in the House the following standing committees, each of which shall have the jurisdiction and related functions assigned to it by this clause and clauses 2, 3, and 4; and all bills, resolutions, and other matters relating to subject within the jurisdiction of any standing committee as listed in this clause shall (in accordance with and subject to clause 5) be referred to such committees, as follows: COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE Adulteration of seeds, insect pests, and protection of birds and animals in forest reserves. Agriculture generally. Agricultural and industrial chemistry. Agricultural colleges and experiment stations. Agricultural economics and research. Agricultural education extension services. Agricultural production and marketing and stabilization of prices of agricultural products, and commodities (not including distribution outside of the United States). Animal industry and diseases of animals. Commodity exchanges. Crop insurance and soil conservation. Dairy industry. Entomology and plant quarantine. Extension of farm credit and farm security. Inspection of livestock, poultry, meat products, and seafood and seafood products. Forestry in general, and forest reserves other than those created from the public domain. Human nutrition and home economics. Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering. Rural electrification. Rural development. Water conservation related to activities of the Department of Agriculture.
Appropriations On March 2, 1865, the House of Representatives separated the appropriating and banking and currency duties from the Committee on Ways and Means, which was first established in 1789, and assigned them to two new committees - the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Banking and Currency.
Armed Services The Committee retains jurisdiction of all subjects listed in clause 1(c) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives and retains exclusive jurisdiction for: defense policy generally, ongoing military operations, the organization and reform of the Department of Defense and Department of Energy, counter-drug programs, acquisition and industrial base policy, technology transfer and export controls, joint interoperability, the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, Department of Energy nonproliferation programs, and detainee affairs and policy. While subcommittees are provided jurisdictional responsibilities in subparagraph (2), the Committee retains the right to exercise oversight and legislative jurisdiction over all subjects within its purview under rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
Budget Established during an era of unprecedented institutional reform in Congress, the Committee on the Budget’s function derives from the constitutional mandate that fixes control of the nation’s purse in the U.S. House of Representatives. Although Congress has always possessed the legal authority to exercise power over federal appropriations, a formal institutional mechanism to manage taxes and spending did not exist until 1974. Three developments precipitated the need for a formal mechanism: increasing conflicts between Congress and the President over the federal budget; the challenge of managing long-term programs such as Social Security and Medicare; and budget deficits in the latter 20th century.i The committee originated with the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (PL 93-344), which permitted Congress to develop an independent means to analyze the Presidential budget, reconcile it with congressional plans, and develop a fiscal policy of its own. The act established permanent standing budget committees in both houses of Congress, as well as a Congressional Budget Office to provide Congress with independent, nonpartisan analyses. Unlike its Senate counterpart, the House Budget Committee has a larger membership (36 in the House compared to 23 in the Senate); ratios are determined at the beginning of every Congress based on party strength. The committee handles broad questions about federal spending and taxation and ensures that the House follows the 1974 law. This committee also has a rotating membership. None of its members may serve more than six out of 10 years. And, in contrast to the Senate whose chair is permanent, the House elects a new chair at the beginning of each Congress. The House also requires that the committee’s membership be drawn from the Ways and Means Committee (5), the Appropriations Committee (5), one from each of the 11 authorizing committees, and one member from the leadership of the Democratic and Republican caucuses.ii As the first panel to examine the President’s annual budget message, the Budget Committee’s chief responsibility is to draft a concurrent resolution that reconciles spending details with the overall comprehensive budget package. The committee is required to draft a budget resolution, agreed to by April 15 of each year, which establishes total targets in five budget areas: authority; outlays; revenues; surplus or deficit; and public debt. The resolution also sets budget authority and outlay targets for each of the 21 spending categories. Although Congress originally planned to have two budget resolutions per year, the committee eventually eliminated the second resolution date because of the effectiveness of the reconciliation process.iii Finally, the committee prepares guidelines in the annual budget resolution for cutting programs to meet spending targets.iv For much of its history, the Budget Committee’s agenda has been directed by centrist House Members who advocated fiscal responsibility while crafting compromises between the President’s budget and Congress’s appropriations interests. Although much of the committee’s activity was directed toward reconciling executive and congressional budget goals, the legislative interests of individual committee chairmen also has played a role in steering the committee focus.v Although the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 outlined the purpose and jurisdiction of the committee, two subsequent acts further shaped the committee’s work. In 1985, Senators Phil Gramm of Texas, Warren Rudman of New Hampshire, and Ernest Hollings of South Carolina sponsored the Gramm– Rudman–Hollings Acts of 1985 and 1987, which required a gradual reduction of the federal deficit by setting target deficit rates within six years. If the projected deficit exceeded the deficit target, the act provided for automatic cuts (or “sequestration”) in other areas of the federal budget to meet the target.vi The second piece of legislation was the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990. A compromise measure between congressional leaders and President George H. W. Bush, this act contained significant revisions from Gramm–Rudman–Hollings. The Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 “placed yearly caps on all discretionary spending, required that any reduction in revenues must be accompanied by an equal reduction in entitlement spending, nullified the Gramm– Rudman–Hollings legislation, and provided pay-as-you-go provisions for any new spending.”vii Throughout its history, the Committee on the Budget has fulfilled its role as an institutional check on federal spending in two ways. First, the committee has consistently provided independent analyses of federal spending through the Congressional Budget Office. Second, the committee negotiated with its counterparts in the executive branch and the Senate. As a result of the institutional reforms that created the Budget Committee, Congress strengthened its hand in shaping the budget and appropriations process. Firsts and Milestones Established: July 12, 1974, by Public Law 93–344 (Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974), 93rd Congress, 2nd Session.
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent agency of the U.S. Federal Government. For 40 years, the Commission has monitored compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advanced comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental, and military cooperation in the 57-nation OSCE region. Our Structure: Learn more about the work of the Helsinki Commission, along with our leadership, Commissioners, and staff. Our History: The Helsinki Commission was founded in 1976 to strengthen the legitimacy of human rights monitoring; to defend those persecuted for acting on their rights and freedoms; to ensure that violations of Helsinki provisions were given full consideration in U.S. foreign policy; and to gain international acceptance of human rights violations as a legitimate subject for one country to raise with another. The Helsinki Process and the OSCE: On August 1, 1975, the leaders of the original 35 participating States gathered in Helsinki and signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Accords. The Final Act is not a treaty, but rather a politically binding agreement that contains a broad range of measures designed to enhance security and cooperation in the region extending from Vancouver to Vladivostok. Join Our Team: Find out how you can contribute to the success of the Helsinki Commission and the world's largest regional security organization.
Education and the Workforce The Education and the Workforce Committee oversees programs that affect hundreds of millions of Americans—from school teachers and small business owners to students and retirees. To serve our constituents and all Americans, the committee will work during the 114th Congress to build on vital reforms we set in motion during the past decade — pressing for enhanced flexibility and local control in education; modernization of outdated federal rules that stifle job growth and innovation; and affordable access to health care, retirement security, and training for American workers.
Foreign Affairs The Full Committee will be responsible for oversight and legislation relating to: foreign assistance (including development assistance, Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Millennium Challenge Account, HIV/AIDS in foreign countries, security assistance, and Public Law 480 programs abroad); the Peace Corps; national security developments affecting foreign policy; strategic planning and agreements; war powers, treaties, executive agreements, and the deployment and use of United States Armed Forces; peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and enforcement of United Nations or other international sanctions; arms control and disarmament issues; the United States Agency for International Development; activities and policies of the State, Commerce and Defense Departments and other agencies related to the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act including export and licensing policy for munitions items and technology and dual-use equipment and technology; international law; promotion of democracy; international law enforcement issues, including narcotics control programs and activities; Broadcasting Board of Governors; embassy security; international broadcasting; public diplomacy, including international communication, information policy, international education, and cultural programs; and all other matters not specifically assigned to a subcommittee. The Committee will have jurisdiction over legislation with respect to the administration of the Export Administration Act, including the export and licensing of dual-use equipment and technology and other matters related to international economic policy and trade not otherwise assigned to a subcommittee and with respect to the United Nations, its affiliated agencies and other international organizations, including assessed and voluntary contributions to such organizations. The Committee may conduct oversight with respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee as defined in the Rules of the House of Representatives.
Homeland Security The Homeland Security Committee was established in 2002 to provide Congressional oversight for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and better protect the American people against a possible terrorist attack. This Congress, the Committee has passed several critical pieces of bipartisan, homeland security legislation to prevent terrorist attacks on the homeland, secure our borders, protect against cyber attacks, ensure the Department of Homeland Security runs efficiently, and shield the homeland from international and domestic threats.
Judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary has been called the lawyer for the House of Representatives because of its jurisdiction over matters relating to the administration of justice in federal courts, administrative bodies, and law enforcement agencies. Its infrequent but important role in impeachment proceedings has also brought it much attention. On June 3, 1813, a standing committee on the Judiciary was established by the House of Representatives to consider legislation relating to judicial proceedings. Since that time, the scope of the committee’s concern has expanded to include not only civil and criminal judicial proceedings and Federal courts and judges, but also issues relating to bankruptcy, espionage, terrorism, the protection of civil liberties, constitutional amendments, immigration and naturalization, interstate compacts, claims against the United States, national penitentiaries, Presidential succession, antitrust law, revision and codification of the statutes of the United States, state and territorial boundary lines and patents, copyrights and trademarks. Particularly important in our time is the Committee’s oversight responsibility for the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. Hearings on legislation including the Patriot Act have emphasized the Committee on the Judiciary’s continuing pursuit of the appropriate balance between constitutional rights and national security. Due to the legal nature of the committee’s work it has been customary for members of the committee to have a legal background. In a time of great change and scientific progress an expanding list of issues, including intellectual property, cloning, and the internet, require committee members to possess a wide breadth of knowledge in order to effectively address concerns from these and other new areas. Any legislation that carries a possibility for criminal or civil penalties can be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, so its legislative workload is substantial. The committee’s weighty agenda has frequently placed it in a central role in American politics, most notably during its consideration of impeachment charges against presidents of the United States in both 1974 and 1998. The judiciary and judicial proceedings, civil and criminal. Administrative practice and procedure. Apportionment of Representatives. Bankruptcy, mutiny, espionage, and counterfeiting. Civil liberties. Constitutional amendments. Criminal law enforcement. Federal courts and judges, and local courts in the Territories and possessions. Immigration policy and non-border enforcement. Interstate compacts generally. Claims against the United States. Members of Congress, attendance of members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner; and their acceptance of incompatible offices. National penitentiaries. Patents, the Patent and Trademark Office, copyrights, and trademarks. Presidential succession. Protection of trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies. Revision and codification of the Statutes of the United States. State and territorial boundary lines. Subversive activities affecting the internal security of the United States.
Oversight and Government Reform Our mission statement is to ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of the federal government and all its agencies. We provide a check and balance on the role and power of Washington - and a voice to the people it serves. Genuinely good government requires a commitment to expose waste, fraud, and abuse. We ultimately report to hard working taxpayers to ensure their investment in government is spent effectively, efficiently, and transparently. We identify problems, shine light on the situation, and propose reforms to prevent abuses from being repeated.
Permanent Selec Committee on Intelligence History and Jurisdiction The United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) is a committee of the United States House of Representatives, currently chaired by U.S. Congressman Devin Nunes (California). The HPSCI is charged with the oversight of the United States Intelligence Community, which includes the intelligence and intelligence related activities of 17 elements of the US Government, and the Military Intelligence Program.
Rules The Committee on Rules is amongst the oldest standing committees in the House, having been first formally constituted on April 2, 1789. The Committee is commonly known as “The Speaker’s Committee” because it is the mechanism that the Speaker uses to maintain control of the House Floor, and was chaired by the Speaker until 1910. Because of the vast power wielded by the Rules Committee, its ratio has traditionally been weighted in favor of the majority party, and has been in its “2 to 1 1” (9 majority and 4 minority members) configuration since the late 1970s. The Rules Committee has two broad categories of jurisdiction: special orders for the consideration of legislation (known as “special rules” or “rules”) and original jurisdiction matters. A special rule provides the terms and conditions of debate on a measure or matter, consideration of which constitutes the bulk of the work of the Rules Committee. The Committee also considers original jurisdiction measures, which commonly represent changes to the standing rules of the House, or measures that contain special rules, such as the expedited procedures in trade legislation. The Committee has the authority to do virtually anything during the course of consideration of a measure, including deeming it passed. The Committee can also include a self- executed amendment which could rewrite just parts of a bill, or the entire measure. In essence, so long as a majority of the House is willing to vote for a special rule, there is little that the Rules Committee cannot do.
Science, Space, and Technology Jurisdiction The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has jurisdiction over all energy research, development, and demonstration, and projects therefor, and all federally owned or operated non-military energy laboratories; astronautical research and development, including resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities; civil aviation research and development; environmental research and development; marine research; commercial application of energy technology; National Institute of Standards and Technology, standardization of weights and measures and the metric system; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Science Foundation; National Weather Service; outer space, including exploration and control thereof; science scholarships; scientific research, development, and demonstration, and projects therefor. The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology shall review and study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities relating to non-military research and development.
Ways and Means The Committee on Ways and Means is the oldest committee of the United States Congress, and is the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives. The Committee derives a large share of its jurisdiction from Article I, Section VII of the U.S. Constitution which declares, “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.” First established as a select committee on July 24, 1789, it was discharged less than two months later. The committee was reappointed from the first session of the Fourth Congress in 1795, and was formally listed as a standing committee in the House Rules on January 7, 1802. Until 1865, the jurisdiction of the committee (referred to as the Committee of Ways and Means before 1880) included the critically important areas of revenue, appropriations, and banking. Since 1865, the committee has continued to exercise jurisdiction over revenue and related issues such as tariffs, reciprocal trade agreements, and the bonded debt of the United States. Revenue-related aspects of the Social Security system, Medicare, and social services programs have come within Ways and Means’ purview in the 20th century. The roster of committee members who have gone on to serve in higher office is impressive. Eight Presidents and eight Vice Presidents have served on Ways and Means, as have 21 Speakers of the House of Representatives, and four Justices of the Supreme Court.

National Library Legislative Day 2018: U.S. Congressional Committee Assignments (AL Membership)

Alabama Membership on U.S. Congressional Committees

U.S. Senate

U.S. House of Representatives