Americans US – Federal Committees

THE PARTY OF WE THE PEOPLE – UNITED BY HOPE – POWERED BY YOU

 

The American US Party will establish additional new committees in their party that are in line with our Federal Congressional Committees and the candidates selected to represent our party will prove to the party that they have the ability and best interests of our country and citizens to represent us.

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Senate - Committees

The U.S. Senate operates a system of committees to manage its legislative, oversight, and investigative responsibilities efficiently. Below is a comprehensive list of the current Senate committees, categorized by type (standing, select/special, and joint), along with their primary responsibilities and purposes, based on information from official Senate sources and related references. The Senate currently maintains 16 standing committees, 4 select or special committees, and 4 joint committees.

 

Standing Committees:

 

Standing committees are permanent bodies with specific jurisdictions defined by Senate Rules (Rule XXV). They have legislative authority, meaning they consider bills, recommend measures for Senate consideration, and conduct oversight of federal agencies and programs within their jurisdiction. Most also recommend funding authorizations for government operations.

 

1. Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

 

• Purpose: Oversees policies related to agriculture, nutrition, and forestry.

 

• Responsibilities: Handles legislation and oversight on farming, food production, rural development, conservation, horticulture, and agricultural markets.

 

2. Committee on Appropriations

 

• Purpose: Allocates federal funds for government operations and programs.

 

• Responsibilities: Drafts appropriations legislation to provide budget authority for federal agencies. It ensures funding aligns with authorized levels set by the Budget Committee.

 

3. Committee on Armed Services

 

• Purpose: Oversees national defense and military policy.

 

• Responsibilities: Manages legislation and oversight related to the Department of Defense, military research and development, service member pay, and national security.

 

4. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

 

• Purpose: Regulates financial institutions and housing policies.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees banking, monetary policy, insurance, housing, urban development, and digital assets.

 

5. Committee on the Budget

 

• Purpose: Establishes guidelines for federal spending and revenue.

 

• Responsibilities: Drafts the concurrent resolution on the budget, setting aggregate levels for spending, revenue, and debt limits to guide authorizing and appropriating committees.

 

6. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

 

• Purpose: Addresses commerce, science, and transportation policies.

 

• Responsibilities: Handles legislation on science and technology, oceans policy, transportation, communications, consumer protection, aviation, and tourism.

 

7. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

 

• Purpose: Manages energy and natural resource policies.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees energy resources, public lands, Native American affairs, water resources, and national parks.

 

8. Committee on Environment and Public Works

 

• Purpose: Focuses on environmental and infrastructure issues.

 

• Responsibilities: Handles legislation on pollution, environmental policy, public buildings, infrastructure maintenance, and climate policies.

 

9. Committee on Finance

 

• Purpose: Manages fiscal and economic policy.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees taxation, trade, social security, public assistance, and fiscal responsibility.

 

10. Committee on Foreign Relations

 

• Purpose: Shapes U.S. foreign policy.

 

• Responsibilities: Manages legislation and oversight on diplomacy, international aid, arms control, national security, and war declarations.

 

11. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP)

 

• Purpose: Addresses health, education, and labor issues.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees healthcare, drug safety, education at all levels, labor laws, workplace safety, and pensions.

 

12. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

 

• Purpose: Oversees homeland security and government operations.

 

• Responsibilities: Manages border security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, federal workforce, and regulatory affairs. Conducts broad oversight of government efficiency.

 

13. Committee on the Judiciary

 

• Purpose: Handles judicial and legal policy.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees federal judicial policy, law enforcement, the Department of Justice, and nominations for federal judges and key executive positions (e.g., Attorney General). Plays a critical role in constitutional and social issues.

 

14. Committee on Rules and Administration

 

• Purpose: Manages Senate operations and procedures.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees Senate rules, federal elections, and administration of Senate facilities.

 

15. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

 

• Purpose: Supports small businesses.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees the Small Business Administration (SBA) and legislation related to small business development and entrepreneurship.

 

16. Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

 

• Purpose: Addresses veterans’ issues.

 

• Responsibilities: Manages legislation on veterans’ compensation, vocational rehabilitation, education, and general veteran affairs.

 

Select and Special Committees:

 

Select and special committees are created for specific purposes, often for investigations or studies, and may be permanent or temporary. They typically focus on oversight or emerging issues that may not fit within standing committee jurisdictions.

 

1. Select Committee on Ethics

 

• Purpose: Ensures ethical conduct of Senators and staff.

 

• Responsibilities: Investigates ethical violations, oversees financial disclosures, and enforces Senate conduct rules.

 

2. Special Committee on Aging

 

• Purpose: Studies issues affecting older Americans.

 

• Responsibilities: Conducts studies and recommends policies on aging-related issues, such as healthcare, housing, and economic security for seniors.

 

3. Select Committee on Indian Affairs

 

• Purpose: Addresses Native American issues.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees legislation and policies related to Native American tribes, including tribal governance, economic development, and treaty obligations.

 

Joint Committees:

 

Joint committees include members from both the Senate and House and typically focus on oversight or administrative tasks rather than drafting legislation.

 

1. Joint Economic Committee

 

• Purpose: Studies economic policy.

 

• Responsibilities: Conducts research and provides recommendations on national economic issues, including fiscal policy and economic growth.

 

2. Joint Committee on the Library

 

• Purpose: Oversees the Library of Congress.

 

• Responsibilities: Manages operations and policies related to the Library of Congress, though much of its oversight is handled by majority party leadership.

 

3. Joint Committee on Printing

 

• Purpose: Oversees government printing operations.

 

• Responsibilities: Manages the Government Publishing Office and federal printing procedures, though it is largely defunct with oversight handled by party leadership.

 

4. Joint Committee on Taxation

 

• Purpose: Supports tax policy development.

 

• Responsibilities: Provides analysis and recommendations on tax legislation and oversees tax-related issues.

 

Committee Functions and Processes:

 

• Legislative Role: Committees review bills and resolutions referred by the Senate Parliamentarian based on jurisdiction (Senate Rule XVII). They hold hearings to gather expert testimony, mark up bills with amendments, and send approved measures to the full Senate with a report. Only a small fraction of the approximately 3,000 referred bills are acted upon.

 

• Oversight Role: Committees monitor federal agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdiction, holding about one-quarter of their hearings for oversight purposes. They ensure accountability of executive operations and expenditures.

 

• Nomination Role: Committees evaluate presidential nominees for executive and judicial positions, holding confirmation hearings (e.g., Judiciary Committee for federal judges).

 

• Investigative Role: Committees conduct investigations to gather information on national or international issues, supported by broad investigative powers established in cases like McGrain v. Daugherty (1927).

Additional Notes

 

• Subcommittees: Most standing committees have subcommittees to handle specialized tasks within their jurisdiction, enhancing efficiency. For example, the Appropriations Committee has subcommittees like Financial Services and General Government or Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

 

• Committee Assignments: Senators are assigned to committees by their party conferences, with limits on service (e.g., no more than two Class A committees and one Class B committee per senator, unless waived). The majority party controls the chair and most resources.

 

• Jurisdictional Overlap: Complex issues may fall under multiple committees, with referrals based on the “predominant” subject matter. Committee websites provide detailed jurisdiction information under “About the Committee” or similar sections.

 

• Historical Context: The Senate committee system evolved from temporary select committees in 1789 to permanent standing committees in 1816, driven by increasing legislative complexity. Today’s system reflects periodic reforms to streamline operations, such as the 1946 Legislative Reorganization Act.

House of Representatives - Committees

The U.S. House of Representatives operates several committees to manage legislative, oversight, and administrative functions. Below is a list of the current standing committees, along with their primary responsibilities and purposes, based on information from official sources like house.gov and congress.gov. Note that select and joint committees are also mentioned briefly where relevant, but the focus is on standing committees as they handle the bulk of legislative work. Committee jurisdictions may overlap, and subcommittees often handle specialized tasks within these broader mandates.

 

Standing Committees of the U.S. House of Representatives:

 

1. Committee on Agriculture

 

• Purpose: Oversees policies related to agriculture, food production, and rural development.

 

• Responsibilities: Handles legislation on farming, forestry, conservation, horticulture, nutrition, and agricultural markets. Conducts oversight of the Department of Agriculture and related programs.

 

2. Committee on Appropriations

 

• Purpose: Allocates federal funding for government operations and programs.

 

• Responsibilities: Drafts appropriations bills to fund federal agencies and programs, adhering to the budget resolution set by the Budget Committee. Oversees discretionary spending, including defense, education, and infrastructure. Has 12 subcommittees for specific funding areas.

 

3. Committee on Armed Services

 

• Purpose: Manages defense policy and military operations.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees the Department of Defense, military research and development, service member pay and promotion, and national security programs. Reviews defense-related legislation and budgets.

 

4. Committee on the Budget

 

• Purpose: Sets the framework for federal spending and revenue.

 

• Responsibilities: Crafts the annual budget resolution, setting overall spending and revenue targets. Coordinates with the Senate Budget Committee and monitors federal fiscal policy. Unique in having no subcommittees.

 

5. Committee on Education and the Workforce

 

• Purpose: Addresses education and labor policies.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees legislation on education at all levels, labor laws, workplace safety, and pensions. Monitors programs like Head Start and worker protections.

 

6. Committee on Energy and Commerce

 

• Purpose: Regulates energy, health, and commerce policies.

 

• Responsibilities: Handles legislation on energy resources, telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health, environmental policy, and climate issues. Oversees agencies like the FCC and EPA.

 

7. Committee on Ethics

 

• Purpose: Ensures ethical conduct of House members and staff.

 

• Responsibilities: Investigates allegations of misconduct, enforces financial disclosure rules, and sets standards for member behavior. Advises on ethics compliance.

 

8. Committee on Financial Services

 

• Purpose: Regulates the financial sector and housing.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees banking, monetary policy, insurance, housing, and urban development. Monitors agencies like the Federal Reserve and Treasury.

 

9. Committee on Foreign Affairs

 

• Purpose: Shapes U.S. foreign policy and international relations.

 

• Responsibilities: Handles legislation on diplomacy, international aid, national security, arms control, and war declarations. Oversees the State Department and foreign aid programs.

 

10. Committee on Homeland Security

 

• Purpose: Addresses domestic security and emergency preparedness.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees border security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and FEMA. Develops policies to protect critical infrastructure and respond to domestic threats.

 

11. Committee on House Administration

 

• Purpose: Manages House operations and administrative functions.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees the operations of the House, including the Library of Congress, Smithsonian museums, and Architect of the Capitol. Handles election-related issues and House staff policies.

 

12. Committee on the Judiciary

 

• Purpose: Oversees federal judicial policy and law enforcement.

 

• Responsibilities: Handles legislation on federal courts, immigration, intellectual property, and constitutional issues. Plays a key role in impeachment proceedings and oversight of the Justice Department.

 

13. Committee on Natural Resources

 

• Purpose: Manages policies on public lands and natural resources.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees legislation on energy production, mineral lands, fisheries, wildlife, public lands, Native American affairs, and national parks. Monitors the Department of the Interior.

 

14. Committee on Oversight and Accountability

 

• Purpose: Ensures government efficiency and accountability.

 

• Responsibilities: Conducts oversight of federal agencies, investigates waste or fraud, and reviews government operations, including health care and IT. Has broad authority to subpoena and investigate.

 

15. Committee on Rules

 

• Purpose: Controls the legislative process on the House floor.

 

• Responsibilities: Sets rules for debate and amendments on bills, prioritizing which bills reach the floor. Known as the “Speaker’s Committee” due to its influence and majority-party dominance (9 majority, 4 minority members). Can include self-executed amendments to rewrite bills.

 

16. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

 

• Purpose: Promotes scientific research and technological innovation.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees non-military energy research, federally owned laboratories, space exploration, and science policy. Monitors agencies like NASA and the Department of Energy.

 

17. Committee on Small Business

 

• Purpose: Supports and protects small businesses.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees legislation on small business financial aid, regulatory flexibility, and access to capital. Monitors the Small Business Administration (SBA).

 

18. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

 

• Purpose: Manages transportation and infrastructure policy.

 

• Responsibilities: Oversees aviation, maritime, highways, bridges, mass transit, railroads, and infrastructure maintenance. Monitors agencies like the FAA and Department of Transportation.

 

19. Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

 

• Purpose: Supports veterans’ programs and services.

 

• Responsibilities: Recommends legislation on veterans’ compensation, healthcare, education, and vocational rehabilitation. Oversees the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

 

20. Committee on Ways and Means

 

• Purpose: Handles tax and economic policy.

 

• Responsibilities: Drafts tax legislation, oversees trade, social security, and public assistance programs. Has exclusive authority to initiate revenue bills, a key constitutional power. Monitors the IRS and Treasury.

Select and Special Committees

 

• Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party

 

• Purpose: Investigates and addresses issues related to U.S.-China strategic competition.

 

• Responsibilities: Conducts oversight and recommends policies on economic, technological, and security challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party. Temporary, with a specific focus.

 

• House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

 

• Purpose: Oversees intelligence community activities.

 

• Responsibilities: Monitors intelligence agencies, national security programs, and classified activities. Established in 1977, it operates as a permanent select committee.

 

• Other select committees may be created for specific investigations or tasks (e.g., January 6th investigation in past Congresses) and are typically temporary.

Joint Committees

 

• Joint Committees (e.g., Joint Economic Committee, Joint Committee on Printing, Joint Committee on Taxation, Joint Committee on the Library)

 

• Purpose: Coordinate administrative or oversight functions between the House and Senate.

 

• Responsibilities: Conduct studies, oversee entities like the Government Printing Office or Library of Congress, and provide recommendations. Do not draft legislation but support Congress-wide functions.

 

Additional Notes:

 

• Committee Structure: Most committees have subcommittees to handle specific issues within their jurisdiction, except the Budget Committee. Subcommittees conduct detailed hearings and draft legislation.

 

• Oversight Role: All standing committees monitor agencies and programs within their jurisdictions, ensuring accountability and efficiency. They hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, and review federal operations.

 

• Committee Assignments: Members are assigned by party leadership, with the majority party holding more seats. Committee chairs (from the majority party) and ranking members (from the minority) lead each committee.

 

• Legislative Process: Committees review bills, hold hearings, and recommend measures to the full House. The Rules Committee plays a unique role in setting debate terms, while the Committee of the Whole facilitates efficient floor proceedings.

 

For the most current committee memberships or specific bills under review, check www.house.gov or www.congress.gov.