COMMITTEES
A congressional committee is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty. Committee membership enables members to develop specialized knowledge of the matters under their jurisdiction.
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.
Until 1865, all "general" appropriations bills had been controlled in the House by the Committee on Ways and Means - also in charge of revenue measures and some other classes of substantive legislation.
Senate Appropriations Subcommittees
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee
The House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies is a standing subcommittee within the House Appropriations Committee. The United States House Committee on Appropriations and the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations have joint jurisdiction over all appropriations bills in the United States Congress.[1] Each committee has 12 matching subcommittees, each of which is tasked with working on one of the twelve annual regular appropriations bills.
The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse, 1 that is, the power to spend, collect revenue, and borrow. The jurisdiction of the House Budget Committee is derived from the Budget Act as well as House Rule X. This jurisdiction is protected under the Budget Act, which states that no bill, resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report dealing with any matter within the jurisdiction of the Budget Committee shall be considered in the House unless it is a bill or resolution that has been reported by the Budget Committee or unless it is an amendment to a bill or resolution reported by the Budget Committee. The Budget Committee is responsible for developing the annual budget resolution. The budget resolution is a mechanism for setting forth aggregate levels of spending, revenue, the deficit or surplus, and public debt. In developing the budget resolution, the Budget Committee examines a budget outlook report that includes baseline budget projections presented to Congress by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).House rules state that the Budget Committee shall be responsible for oversight of the CBO.
The Committee on Energy and Commerce has responsibility for matters including telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health and research, environmental quality, energy policy, and interstate and foreign commerce among others.
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittees
Communications and Technology Subcommittee
Website
Electronic communications, both Interstate and foreign, including voice, video, audio and data, whether transmitted by wire or wirelessly, and whether transmitted by telecommunications, commercial or private mobile service, broadcast, cable, satellite, microwave, or other mode; technology generally; emergency and public safety communications; cybersecurity, privacy, and data security; the Federal Communications Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Office of Emergency Communications in the Department of Homeland Security; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.
The health sector broadly, including private and public health insurance (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP); biomedical research and development; hospital construction; mental health; health information technology, privacy, and cybersecurity; medical malpractice and medical malpractice insurance; the 340B drug discount program; the regulation of food, drugs, and cosmetics; drug abuse; the Department of Health and Human Services; the National Institutes of Health; the Centers for Disease Control; Indian Health Service; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.
Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee
Interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee; consumer protection, including privacy matters generally; data security; motor vehicle safety; regulation of commercial practices (the Federal Trade Commission), including sports-related matters; consumer product safety (the Consumer Product Safety Commission); product liability; and regulation of travel, tourism, and time. The Subcommittee’s jurisdiction can be directly traced to Congress’ constitutional authority “to regulate Commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.”
Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
Responsible for conducting oversight and investigations of any matter related to the jurisdiction of the full committee.
The Ethics Committee is unique among all House committees in that it is a bipartisan committee. The Ethics Committee’s membership consists of 10 Members, five Members from the two national political parties. The Chair comes from whichever party is in the majority party in the House. All Committee staff are nonpartisan.
The Ethics Committee has three main functions. First, the office of Advice and Education is designated to answer questions and provide ethics training to House Members, officers, and employees. Contact with the Committee about the application of laws and rules to proposed conduct is welcomed and encouraged. The Committee’s advisory function is conducted in a confidential manner. The Committee rules prevent an Advice and Education inquiry from being transformed into an investigation.
The second function of the Committee is investigations. The Committee is charged with investigating and adjudicating any alleged violations of the House rules or any related statutes by House Members, officers, or employees.
The Committee’s third function is reviewing financial disclosure statements filed by Members, candidates, senior staff, and shared staff.
The House Financial Services Committee has jurisdiction over issues pertaining to the economy, the banking system, housing, insurance, and securities and exchanges. Additionally, the Committee also has jurisdiction over monetary policy, international finance, international monetary organizations, and efforts to combat terrorist financing.
The Committee oversees the Nation’s economy through its oversight of the Federal Reserve Board and individual reserve banks, the Treasury, the production and distribution of currency, and the Nation’s capital markets.
Agencies under oversight by the Committee include: the Federal Reserve, Treasury, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Credit Union Administration, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the Export-Import Bank.
House Financial Services Subcommittees
The House Financial Services Committee has jurisdiction over issues pertaining to the economy, the banking system, housing, insurance, and securities and exchanges. Additionally, the Committee also has jurisdiction over monetary policy, international finance, international monetary organizations, and efforts to combat terrorist financing.
The Committee oversees the Nation’s economy through its oversight of the Federal Reserve Board and individual reserve banks, the Treasury, the production and distribution of currency, and the Nation’s capital markets.
Agencies under oversight by the Committee include: the Federal Reserve, Treasury, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Credit Union Administration, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the Export-Import Bank.
Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion Subcommittee
The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion includes —
all matters related to diversity and inclusion within all the agencies, departments, programs, and entities within the jurisdiction of the committee, including workforce diversity and inclusion, external or customer diversity and inclusion, and supplier diversity;
the Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion within the federal financial agencies
methods, initiatives, and measures to promote financial and economic inclusion for all consumers. However, under Republican control during the 118th Congress, the subcommittee expanded its focus to include digital financing, including cryptocurrency.
Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy
The subcommittee's jurisdiction includes domestic monetary policy, and agencies which directly or indirectly affect domestic monetary policy; multilateral development institutions such as the World Bank; coins and currency, including operations of the United States Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing; and international trade and finance including all matters pertaining to the International Monetary Fund and the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
The Subcommittee conducts oversight of the agencies, departments, and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction. The Subcommittee also conducts investigations on any matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee, and evaluates the need for any legislative changes to the laws and programs within this jurisdiction.
The Committee on House Administration (CHA) was established in 1947 as part of a larger effort to streamline the U.S. House of Representatives' committee system and to modernize its internal management and operations. More than 70 years since the committee was established, CHA's two principal functions include oversight of federal elections and the day-to-day operations of the House.
House Administration Subcommittees
Browse House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress Committee ("Select Committee") was established by H.Res. 6 on January 4, 2019 and was tasked to investigate, study, make findings, hold public hearings, and develop recommendations to make Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent on behalf of the American people. The Select Committee was one of the only truly bipartisan committees in Congress, with an equal number of Republican and Democratic members. Jurisdiction: Matters relating to modernization of the House of Representatives and the Legislative Branch, oversight of implementation of modernization initiatives, and such other matters as may be referred to the subcommittee.
Jurisdiction: Matters relating to congressional security, accountability of the legislative branch security and safety apparatus, legislative branch operations, and such other matters as may be referred to the subcommittee. House Oversight: The Committee oversees the management of the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution (including the National Zoo), Chief Administrative Officer, Clerk of the House, Sergeant at Arms, House Inspector General, United States Capitol Police, Government Publishing Office, Architect of the Capitol, and the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. House Operations: House Administration manages the daily operations that keep the House of Representatives running smoothly. The budget authorizations for expenses of House committees, and those for expenses of Members of Congress, are set by the Committee. Additionally, the Committee is responsible for oversight of House officers, including the administrative and technical functions of the House.
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.
House Judiciary Subcommittees
The Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust
The Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust has jurisdiction over the following subject matters: bankruptcy and commercial law, bankruptcy judgeships, administrative law, independent counsel, state taxation affecting interstate commerce, interstate compacts, antitrust matters, other appropriate matters as referred by the Chairman, and relevant oversight.
The Constitution and Limited Government
The Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government has jurisdiction over constitutional rights, constitutional amendments, Federal civil rights, voting rights, claims against the United States, non-immigration private claims bills, ethics in government, tort liability, federal charters of incorporation, and other matters.
Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet
The Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance has jurisdiction over the Federal Criminal Code, the administration of justice, federal prosecutors, drug enforcement, sentencing, internal and homeland security, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the use of surveillance tools by federal law enforcement, and prisons.
Crime and Federal Government Surveillance
The Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet has jurisdiction over the Administration of the U.S. Courts, the Federal Rules of Evidence, Civil and Appellate Procedure, judicial ethics, copyright, patent, trademark law and information technology.
Responsiveness and Accountability to Oversight
The Subcommittee on Responsiveness and Accountability To Oversight has jurisdiction over the responsiveness of agencies, departments, and entities to oversight requests of the Committee and any Subcommittee of the Committee and the operations of their congressional liaisons or offices of legislative affairs, with respect to the necessity or desirability of enacting, changing, or repealing any legislation within the jurisdiction of the Committee.
Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government
Established to investigate alleged abuses of federal authority, including collusion between federal agencies and private sector entities to suppress conservative viewpoints, the committee has broad authority to subpoena law enforcement and national security agencies, including with regard to ongoing criminal investigations.
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.
House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittees
Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Government Innovation
The Subcommittee has oversight jurisdiction over federal information technology (IT), data standards and quality, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure and acquisition, emerging technologies, privacy, cloud computing, data centers and intellectual property.
Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs
The subcommittee has oversight jurisdiction over: income inequality and policies that affect the growth and prosperity of the middle class, including education, housing, labor, trade, small business, agriculture; securities regulation; consumer protection; private sector information technology security, policy, and management; intellectual property; telecommunications; and federal acquisition policy unrelated to national security and information technology.
Health Care and Financial Services
The Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services is a subcommittee of the United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
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” (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.
House Rules Subcommittees
Legislative and Budget Process
The subcommittee has general responsibility for measures or matters within the Rules Committee’s jurisdiction related to relations between the Congress and the Executive Branch – most notably, the budget process.
Rules and Organization of the House
The subcommittee has general responsibility for measures or matters within the Rules Committee’s jurisdiction related to relations between the Congress and the Executive Branch – most notably, the budget process.
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee oversees agency budgets totaling over $42 billion and its jurisdiction covers most non-defense and non-human-health Federal research and development.
House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittees
Responsible for conducting oversight and investigations of any matter related to the jurisdiction of the full committee.
Research and Technology - Republican
Shall have jurisdiction over the following subject matters: All matters relating to science policy and STEM education; competitiveness, technology, standards, and innovation; National Science Foundation; The National Institute of Standards and Technology; The Office of Science and Technology Policy; The National Technical Information Service; Research, development, and demonstration activities of the Department of Transportation; Research, development, demonstration, and standards-related activities of the Department of Homeland Security; Innovation programs at the Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce; Intergovernmental mechanisms for research, development, and demonstration and cross-cutting programs; All scientific research, and scientific and engineering resources (including human resources); All matters relating to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education,including matters related to diversity in STEM; Technology transfer, including civilian use of defense technologies; Emerging technology policy, including biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and quantum; Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer; International scientific cooperation; Standardization of weights and measures, including technical standards, standardization, and conformity assessment; Measurement, including the metric system of measurement; Competitiveness, including small business competitiveness; Tax, antitrust, regulatory and other legal and governmental policies as they relate to technological development and commercialization; Patent and intellectual property policy; International technology trade; University research policy, including infrastructure and overhead; University research partnerships, including those with industry; Science scholarships; Surface and water transportation research, development, and demonstration programs; Earthquake programs, windstorm programs, and fire research programs, including those related to wildfire proliferation research and prevention; Voting and elections systems technologies and standards; Computing, communications, networking, and information technology; Research and development relating to health, biomedical, and nutritional programs; Research, development, and demonstration relating to nanoscience, nanoengineering, and nanotechnology; Agricultural, geological, biological and life sciences research; Materials research, development, demonstration, and policy; Other appropriate matters as referred by the Chairman; and relevant oversight.
Research and Technology - Democrat
The Subcommittee on Research & Technology shall have jurisdiction over the following subject matters: All matters relating to science policy and science education; the Office of Science and Technology Policy; all scientific research, and scientific and engineering resources (including human resources); all matters relating to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education; intergovernmental mechanisms for research, development, and demonstration and cross-cutting programs; international scientific cooperation; National Science Foundation; university research policy, including infrastructure and overhead; university research partnerships, including those with industry; science scholarships; computing, communications, networking, and information technology; research and development relating to health, biomedical, and nutritional programs; research, development, and demonstration relating to nanoscience, nanoengineering, and nanotechnology; agricultural, geological, biological and life sciences research; materials research, development, demonstration, and policy; all matters relating to competitiveness, technology, standards, and innovation; standardization of weights and measures, including technical standards, standardization, and conformity assessment; measurement, including the metric system of measurement; the Technology Administration of the Department of Commerce; the National Institute of Standards and Technology; the National Technical Information Service; competitiveness, including small business competitiveness; tax, antitrust, regulatory and other legal and governmental policies related to technological development and commercialization; technology transfer, including civilian use of defense technologies; patent and intellectual property policy; international technology trade; research, development, and demonstration activities of the Department of Transportation; surface and water transportation research, development, and demonstration programs; earthquake programs and fire research programs, including those related to wildfire proliferation research and prevention; biotechnology policy; research, development, demonstration, and standards?related activities of the Department of Homeland Security; Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer; voting technologies and standards; other appropriate matters as referred by the Chair; and relevant oversight.
Health Care and Financial Services
The Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services is a subcommittee of the United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs is the authorizing committee for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The committee is responsible for recommending legislation expanding, curtailing, or fine-tuning existing laws relating to veterans' benefits.
House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittees
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs has legislative, oversight, and investigative jurisdiction over compensation; general and special pensions of all the wars of the United States; life insurance issued by the Government on account of service in the Armed Forces; cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in the United States or abroad, except cemeteries administered by the Secretary of the Interior; burial benefits; the Board of Veterans' Appeals; and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity has legislative, oversight, and investigative jurisdiction over the education of veterans, the employment and training of veterans, vocational rehabilitation, veterans' housing programs (including homeless veterans housing), the transition of servicemembers to civilian life, veteran-owned business concerns, and servicemembers civil relief.
The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations has oversight and investigative jurisdiction over veterans' matters generally, information technology and procurement generally, and over such matters as may be referred to the Subcommittee by the Chair of the full Committee for its oversight or investigation and for its appropriate recommendations. The Subcommittee has legislative jurisdiction over such bills or resolutions as may be referred to it by the Chair of the full Committee.
The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations has oversight and investigative jurisdiction over veterans' matters generally, information technology and procurement generally, and over such matters as may be referred to the Subcommittee by the Chair of the full Committee for its oversight or investigation and for its appropriate recommendations. The Subcommittee has legislative jurisdiction over such bills or resolutions as may be referred to it by the Chair of the full Committee.
The Subcommittee on Technology Modernization has legislative, oversight and investigative jurisdiction over Department of Veterans Affairs’ enterprise technology modernization programs and projects, including the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program, enterprise information technology governance, cybersecurity matters, and data management.
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.” 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.
House Ways and Means Subcommittees
The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Health shall include bills and matters referred to the Committee on Ways and Means that relate to programs providing payments (from any source) for health care, health delivery systems, or health research. More specifically, the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Health shall include bills and matters that relate to the health care programs of the Social Security Act (including titles V, XI (Part B), XVIII, and XIX thereof) and, concurrent with the full Committee, tax credit and deduction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code dealing with health insurance premiums and health care costs.
The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Oversight shall include all matters within the scope of the full Committee’s jurisdiction but shall be limited to existing law. Said oversight jurisdiction shall not be exclusive but shall be concurrent with that of the other Subcommittees. With respect to matters involving the Internal Revenue Code and other revenue issues, said concurrent jurisdiction shall be shared with the full Committee. Before undertaking any investigation or hearing, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight shall confer with the Chairman of the full Committee and the Chairman of any other Subcommittee having jurisdiction.
The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Social Security shall include bills and matters referred to the Committee on Ways and Means that relate to the Federal Old Age, Survivors’ and Disability Insurance System, the Railroad Retirement System, and employment taxes and trust fund operations relating to those systems. More specifically, the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Social Security shall include bills and matters involving title II of the Social Security Act and Chapter 22 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Railroad Retirement Tax Act), as well as provisions in title VII and title XI of the Act relating to procedure and administration
SENATORIAL COMMITTEES
The United States Senate Committee on Appropriations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It has jurisdiction over all discretionary spending legislation in the Senate.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is one of twenty Senate committees tasked with conducting Senate business related to specialized areas of legislative interest. Although the Senate has a longstanding history of writing and passing legislation focusing on our nation's banks, the Senate Banking Committee was not formally established until 1913, with Senator Robert Owen of Oklahoma, sponsor of the landmark Federal Reserve Act, as its first Chairman; since then, the Committee has undergone various transformations and reorganizations. Now known as the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to underscore the diversity of issues under its purview, the Committee plays an integral role in managing legislation that affects the lives of many Americans. These areas of jurisdiction include, but are not limited to: banking, insurance, financial markets, securities, housing, urban development and mass transit, international trade and finance, and economic policy (an official list of these legislative and policy issues can be found in the Jurisdiction section of our website). Further information about how Senate Committees generally operate can be found here.
The United States Senate Committee on the Budget was established by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. It is responsible for drafting Congress's annual budget plan and monitoring action on the budget for the Federal Government. The committee has jurisdiction over the Congressional Budget Office.
Under their leadership, the committee is composed of seven subcommittees, which together oversee for the vast range of issues under its jurisdiction. These issues range from communications, highways, aviation, rail, shipping, transportation security, merchant marine, the Coast Guard, oceans, fisheries, weather, disasters, science, space, interstate commerce, tourism, consumer issues, economic development, technology, competitiveness, product safety, and insurance.
The Committee concerns itself with matters relating to: taxation and other revenue measures generally, and those relating to the insular possessions; bonded debt of the United States; customs, collection districts, and ports of entry and delivery; reciprocal trade agreements; tariff and import quotas, and related matters thereto; the transportation of dutiable goods; deposit of public moneys; general revenue sharing; health programs under the Social Security Act, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other health and human services programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund; and national social security.
Affiliated Committees and Advisory Boards: (1) Joint Committee on Taxation, (2) Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, (3) Congressional Advisors on Trade Policy and Negotiations, (4) Official Government Resources
The United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions generally considers matters relating to these issues. Rule 25, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, States the Committee's Jurisdiction to be the following: Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to which committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.Such committee shall also study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to health, education and training, and public welfare, and report thereon from time to time.
The United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is the chief oversight committee of the United States Senate with primary responsibility for the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary is one of the most influential committees in Congress. Its broad legislative jurisdiction has assured its primary role as a forum for the public discussion of social and constitutional issues. The Committee is also responsible for oversight of key activities of the executive branch, and is responsible for the initial stages of the confirmation process of all judicial nominations for the federal judiciary.
The Rules Committee is one of the oldest committees of the United States Senate. Our origins date back to the early days of the Republic when the first Senate convened in March 1789 and established a committee to prepare a system of rules for conducting business in the Senate.
The Veterans' Affairs committee was created in 1970 to transfer responsibilities for veterans from the Finance and Labor committees to a single panel. From 1947 to 1970, matters relating to veterans compensation and veterans generally were referred to the Committee on Finance, while matters relating to the vocational rehabilitation, education, medical care, civil relief, and civilian readjustment of veterans were referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
The Senate Special Committee on Aging was first established in 1961 as a temporary committee. It was granted permanent status on February 1, 1977. While special committees have no legislative authority, they can study issues, conduct oversight of programs, and advance important causes. At the outset, the Committee focused on unmet needs pertaining to income, health care work opportunities, and research. Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, and other laws for seniors followed, with the Committee’s involvement. Through the years, in addition to influencing legislation, the Committee has actively engaged in oversight, with focuses on the quality of care in nursing homes, the cost of prescription drugs, and more.
The Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control was created to “monitor and encourage United States Government and private programs seeking to expand international cooperation against drug abuse and narcotics trafficking” and to “monitor and promote international compliance with narcotics control treaties.” As a formal organization of the U.S. Senate, the Caucus has the status of a standing committee. The Caucus exercises oversight on a wide range of issues, including international counternarcotics assistance and domestic drug prevention and treatment programs. The Caucus has held numerous hearings over the years and has issued a number of reports on U.S. narcotics control policy.
The Select Committee on Ethics (the Committee) is unique among all Senate committees in that it is structurally bipartisan—there are a total of six Members, with three Members from the majority party and three Members from the minority party. The Committee staff is a nonpartisan professional staff hired jointly by the Chairman and Vice Chairman.
The Committee has three main functions. First, the Committee provides ethics advice and education to Members, officers, and employees. Second, the Committee administers the Senate’s financial disclosure program. Finally, the Committee investigates allegations of misconduct by Members, officers, or employees.
Contact with the Committee about the application of laws and rules to proposed conduct is welcomed and encouraged. The Committee’s aim is to preempt possible violations by providing guidance that allows Members, officers, and employees to have a clear understanding of the standards of conduct that govern their actions as public officials.
The jurisdiction of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress was established by House Rules adopted on January 4, 2019. The publications on this page have been made available at the committee's discretion. However, this committee from the 117th Congress is no longer standing.
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The House Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) is an independent, non-partisan entity charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct against Members, officers, and staff of the U.S. House of Representatives and, when appropriate, referring matters to the House Committee on Ethics.
The United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. HPSCI is charged with oversight of the United States Intelligence Community—which includes the intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the following eighteen elements of the U.S. Government—and the Military Intelligence Program.
JOINT COMMITTEES
COMMISSIONS AND CAUCUSES
The bi-partisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission was established with the unanimous consent of the United States House of Representatives in 2008. Membership in the Commission is free and open to all members of the House of Representatives.
The Commission is charged with promoting, defending and advocating for international human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant human rights instruments. The Commission undertakes public education activities, provides expert human rights advice and encourages members of Congress to actively engage in human rights matters. In carrying out its mandate, the Commission collaborates with congressional staff, the U.S. Senate and the executive branch, and continually engages with national and international civil society organizations.
The Commission is chaired by two members of the House of Representatives who are appointed by the Speaker of the House and the Minority Leader. For the 117th Congress, Rep. James P. McGovern (MA-02) is the Democratic Co-Chair, and Rep. Christopher H. Smith (NJ-04) is the Republican Co-Chair. The Speaker and the Leader will name the eight members of the Commission's Executive Committee, four from each party, upon recommendation of the Co-Chairs.
The mission of the House Democracy Partnership is to work with countries around the world to share best practices that promote responsive, effective government, and strengthen democratic institutions. Central to our work is peer-to-peer cooperation and dialogue to build technical expertise in legislatures that will enhance accountability, transparency, legislative independence, access to information, and legislative oversight.
The COC is a bipartisan Commission tasked with overseeing how the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve) are utilizing specific taxpayer funds to provide economic stability as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CONGRESSIONAL PANELS
The Congressional Oversight Panel was a bipartisan organization established in 2008 to review the state of financial markets and the regulatory system, and produce a special report on regulatory reform to analyze the state of the regulatory system and its effectiveness at overseeing the participants in the financial system and protecting consumers.
CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSIONS
The Congressional Oversight Panel was a bipartisan organization established in 2008 to review the state of financial markets and the regulatory system, and produce a special report on regulatory reform to analyze the state of the regulatory system and its effectiveness at overseeing the participants in the financial system and protecting consumers.
Section 643 of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-240). The Commission completed its work and submitted its Final Report to Congress on September 30, 2013
The COC is a bipartisan Commission tasked with overseeing how the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve) are utilizing specific taxpayer funds to provide economic stability as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COC was established by Section 4020 of Title IV, Subtitle A of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), (P.L. 116-136).
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEES
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
Legislative Branch Subcommittee
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
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A Congressional Members Organization (CMO's) is formed by Members of Congress in order to pursue common legislative objectives. Members of both the House and Senate may participate in CMO, but at least one of the Officers of the CMO must be a Member of the House. The participation of Senators in a CMO does not impact the scope of authorized CMO activities in any regard.
The Committee on House Administration (CHA) was established in 1947 as part of a larger effort to streamline the U.S. House of Representatives' committee system and to modernize its internal management and operations. More than 70 years since the committee was established, CHA's two principal functions include oversight of federal elections and the day-to-day operations of the House.
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Congressional Staff Organization A (CSO) is an organization, a majority of whose members are House employees, that exists for the purpose of facilitating interaction among congressional staff. Each Congress, CSOs must register with the Committee on House Administration.