Summary
The Committee on Energy and Commerce serves as the principal guide for the House in matters relating to the promotion of commerce and to the public’s health and marketplace interests, with the relatively recent addition of energy considerations among them.
Senate counterparts: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Subcommittees:
- Communications and Technology
- Energy, Climate and Grid Security
- Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Minerals
- Health
- Innovation, Data and Commerce
- Oversight and Investigations
Chair: Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington (R)
Ranking Member: Frank Pallone, New Jersey (D)
Majority Staff Director: N/A
Minority Staff Director: N/A
Meeting Location:
Featured Video:
Disinformation Nation: Social Media’s Role in Promoting Extremism and Misinformation – March 25, 2021
OnAir Post: Energy and Commerce Committee
News
Majority Press Releases and news can be found here at the committee website.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee will vote Monday on a clean electricity performance program, investments in electric vehicles and improvements in electric transmission for its portion of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package.
“The climate crisis is here, and the cost of inaction is already staggering,” Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said in a statement yesterday. “The investments we’re making in the Build Back Better Act are absolutely essential to addressing this growing threat and keeping our economy competitive as the rest of the world races to dominate the clean energy job market.”
E&C’s $456 billion slice will be the most consequential for climate and greenhouse gas emissions, alongside contributions from the Ways and Means Committee, which is looking to expand a variety of clean energy tax breaks as part of its own piece of the reconciliation bill.
The National Law Review – August 17, 2021
On August 17, 2021, Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Diana DeGette (D-CO), Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Paul Tonko (D-NY), Chair of the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan to request information regarding “concerning reported irregularities” in EPA’s chemical review program. The Committee’s August 17, 2021, press release states that “[a]ccording to recent allegations made by four whistleblowers — each a current or former staffer in EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) — the OCSPP has for many years downplayed the dangers of new chemicals and inappropriately interfered with risk assessments conducted pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).” The press release states that additional reports “have described the interference alleging that OCSPP manipulated the review of dozens of chemicals” to make the chemicals appear safer. EPA employees “were reportedly pressured to downplay evidence of chemicals’ potential adverse effects such as cancer, birth defects, and neurological effects,” and “EPA’s scientific staff were subject to retaliation.”
About
Role of the committee
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has developed what is arguably the broadest (non-tax-oriented) jurisdiction of any congressional committee. The Committee maintains principal responsibility for legislative oversight relating to telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health, air quality and environmental health, the supply and delivery of energy, and interstate and foreign commerce. This jurisdiction extends over five Cabinet-level departments and seven independent agencies—from the Department of Energy, Health and Human Services, the Transportation Department to the Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, and Federal Communications Commission—and sundry quasi-governmental organizations.
It legislates on a wide variety of issues, including:
- health care, including mental health and substance abuse
- health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid
- biomedical research and development
- food, drug, device and cosmetic safety
- environmental protection
- clean air and climate change
- safe drinking water
- toxic chemicals and hazardous waste
- national energy policy
- renewable energy and conservation
- nuclear facilities
- electronic communications and the internet
- broadcast and cable television
- privacy, cybersecurity and data security
- consumer protection and product safety
- motor vehicle safety
- travel, tourism and sports
- interstate and foreign commerce
Source: Wikipedia
Members
Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington
Michael C. Burgess, Texas
Bob Latta, Ohio
Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
Morgan Griffith, Virginia
Gus Bilirakis, Florida
Bill Johnson, Ohio
Larry Bucshon, Indiana
Richard Hudson, North Carolina
Tim Walberg, Michigan
Buddy Carter, Georgia
Jeff Duncan, South Carolina
Gary Palmer, Alabama
Neal Dunn, Florida
John Curtis, Utah
Debbie Lesko, Arizona
Greg Pence, Indiana
Dan Crenshaw, Texas
John Joyce, Pennsylvania
Kelly Armstrong, North Dakota, Vice Chair
Randy Weber, Texas
Rick Allen, Georgia
Troy Balderson, Ohio
Russ Fulcher, Idaho
August Pfluger, Texas
Diana Harshbarger, Tennessee
Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Iowa
Kat Cammack, Florida
Jay Obernolte, California
Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Frank Pallone, New Jersey
Anna Eshoo, California
Diana DeGette, Colorado
Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
Doris Matsui, California
Kathy Castor, Florida
John Sarbanes, Maryland
Paul Tonko, New York
Yvette Clarke, New York
Tony Cárdenas, California
Raul Ruiz, California
Scott Peters, California
Debbie Dingell, Michigan
Marc Veasey, Texas
Annie Kuster, New Hampshire
Robin Kelly, Illinois
Nanette Barragán, California
Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware
Darren Soto, Florida
Angie Craig, Minnesota
Kim Schrier, Washington, Vice Ranking Member
Lori Trahan, Massachusetts
Lizzie Fletcher, Texas
History
The power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign commerce – the ‘commerce clause’ of the Constitution – is at the very core of Congress’s role and responsibility in the American political system. It is, thus, not surprising that the House Energy and Commerce Committee became one of the first standing committees created in Congress in 1795. It stands today as the oldest continuous standing committee in the House and as a committee which is at the crossroads of almost every significant policy area that Congress considers, from the economy and health care to telecommunications, transportation, energy and the environment.” –– Norman J. Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, at a U.S. Capitol Historical Society dinner in 1995.
The Committee on Energy and Commerce was originally established on December 14, 1795, as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures to regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
As our nation has grown and modernized, so too has the Committee’s jurisdiction over commerce – expanding to health care, environmental protection, national energy policy, communications and consumer protection.
Over its more than 200 year history, the committee has had four different names – Commerce and Manufactures (1795-1819), Commerce (1819-1891 & 1995-2001), Interstate and Foreign Commerce (1891-1981) and Energy and Commerce (1981-1995 & 2001-Today).
While its name has changed over time, the Committee has been at the forefront of developing landmark laws that impact the day-to-day lives of all Americans through its broad jurisdiction over commerce.
The Committee on Energy and commerce has adopted rules for the 117th Congress. Click here to read the rules.
Source: Committee website
Contact
Locations
Committee on Energy and Commerce, Democratic Staff
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202) 225-2927
Web Links
- Website
- House Telephone Directory
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- OnAir Post: Energy and Commerce Committee
- Chair, Cathy McMorris Rodgers
- Ranking Member, Frank Pallone
- Wikipedia
- YouTube
Legislation
Hearings
Source: Committee website
Markups
Source: Committee website
Subcommittees
Communications and Technology
Source: Wikipedia
Jurisdiction
The committee has jurisdiction over:
- Interstate and foreign 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 in general
- The emergency communication system and public safety communications
- “Cybersecurity, privacy, and data security”
- Oversight over:
- Federal Communications Commission
- National Telecommunications and Information Administration
- 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.
Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Bob Latta, Ohio
Buddy Carter, Georgia, Vice Chair
Neal Dunn, Florida
Gus Bilirakis, Florida
Tim Walberg, Michigan
John Curtis, Utah
John Joyce, Pennsylvania
Randy Weber, Texas
Rick Allen, Georgia
Troy Balderson, Ohio
Russ Fulcher, Idaho
August Pfluger, Texas
Diana Harshbarger, Tennessee
Kat Cammack, Florida
Jay Obernolte, California
Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Doris Matsui, California
Yvette Clarke, New York
Marc Veasey, Texas
Darren Soto, Florida
Anna Eshoo, California
Tony Cárdenas, California
Angie Craig, Minnesota
Lizzie Fletcher, Texas
Debbie Dingell, Michigan
Ann Kuster, New Hampshire
Robin Kelly, Illinois
Energy, Climate and Grid Security
Source: Wikipedia
Jurisdiction
The Subcommittee’s jurisdiction includes national energy policy generally; fossil energy, renewable energy resources and synthetic fuels; energy conservation; energy information; energy regulation and utilization; utility issues and regulation of nuclear facilities; interstate energy compacts; nuclear energy and waste; the Clean Air Act; all laws, programs, and government activities affecting such matters; and Homeland security-related aspects of the foregoing.
Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Jeff Duncan, South Carolina
John Curtis, Utah, Vice Chair
Michael C. Burgess, Texas
Bob Latta, Ohio
Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
Morgan Griffith, Virginia
Bill Johnson, Ohio
Larry Bucshon, Indiana
Tim Walberg, Michigan
Gary Palmer, Alabama
Debbie Lesko, Arizona
Greg Pence, Indiana
Kelly Armstrong, North Dakota
Randy Weber, Texas
Troy Balderson, Ohio
August Pfluger, Texas
Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Diana DeGette, Colorado
Scott Peters, California
Lizzie Fletcher, Texas
Doris Matsui, California
Paul Tonko, New York
Marc Veasey, Texas
Annie Kuster, New Hampshire
Kim Schrier, Washington
Kathy Castor, Florida
Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware
John Sarbanes, Maryland
Tony Cardenas, California
Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Minerals
Source: Wikipedia
Jurisdiction
According to its website the subcommittee dealt with the following; “All matters related to soil, air, and water contamination, including Superfund and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the regulation of solid, hazardous, and nuclear wastes, including mining, nuclear, oil, gas, and coal combustion waste; the Clean Air Act and air emissions; emergency environmental response; industrial plant security, including cybersecurity; the regulation of drinking water (Safe Drinking Water Act), including underground injection of fluids (e.g., deep well injection or hydrofracking); toxic substances (Toxic Substances Control Act); noise; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.”
Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Bill Johnson, Ohio
John Joyce, Pennsylvania, Vice Chair
Buddy Carter, Georgia
Gary Palmer, Alabama
Dan Crenshaw, Texas
Randy Weber, Texas
Rick Allen, Georgia
Troy Balderson, Ohio
Russ Fulcher, Idaho
August Pfluger, Texas
Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Iowa
Jay Obernolte, California
Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Paul Tonko, New York
Diana DeGette, Colorado
Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
John Sarbanes, Maryland
Yvette Clarke, New York
Raul Ruiz, California
Scott Peters, California
Nanette Barragán, California
Health
Source: Wikipedia
Jurisdiction
The House Subcommittee on Health has general jurisdiction over bills and resolutions relating to public health and quarantine; hospital construction; mental health; biomedical research and development; health information technology, privacy, and cybersecurity; public health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid) and private health insurance; medical malpractice and medical malpractice insurance; 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. As a Standing Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, it holds regular meetings and performs any functions assigned to it by that committee’s rules in addition to those assigned to it by the House Rules.
Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
Larry Bucshon, Indiana, Vice Chair
Michael C. Burgess, Texas
Morgan Griffith, Virginia
Bob Latta, Ohio
Gus Bilirakis, Florida
Bill Johnson, Ohio
Richard Hudson, North Carolina
Buddy Carter, Georgia
Neal Dunn, Florida
Greg Pence, Indiana
Dan Crenshaw, Texas
John Joyce, Pennsylvania
Diana Harshbarger, Tennessee
Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Iowa
Jay Obernolte, California
Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Anna Eshoo, California
John Sarbanes, Maryland
Tony Cárdenas, California
Debbie Dingell, Michigan
Ann McLane Kuster, New Hampshire
Robin Kelly, Illinois
Nanette Barragán, California
Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware
Angie Craig, Minnesota
Kim Schrier, Washington
Lori Trahan, Massachusetts
Innovation, Data and Commerce
Source: Wikipedia
Jurisdiction
The committee has jurisdiction over issues affecting interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee; regulation of commercial practices at the Federal Trade Commission, including sports-related matters; consumer affairs and consumer protection, including privacy matters generally; consumer product safety at the Consumer Product Safety Commission; product liability; and motor vehicle safety; Regulation of travel, tourism, and time. Within these specific areas, the committee also has jurisdiction over all aspects related to Homeland security, including cybersecurity
Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Gus Bilirakis, Florida
Tim Walberg, Michigan, Vice Chair
Larry Bucshon, Indiana
Jeff Duncan, South Carolina
Neal Dunn, Florida
Debbie Lesko, Arizona
Greg Pence, Indiana
Kelly Armstrong, North Dakota
Rick Allen, Georgia
Russ Fulcher, Idaho
Diana Harshbarger, Tennessee
Kat Cammack, Florida
Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
Kathy Castor, Florida
Debbie Dingell, Michigan
Robin Kelly, Illinois
Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware
Darren Soto, Florida
Lori Trahan, Massachusetts
Yvette Clarke, New York
Oversight and Investigations
Source: Wikipedia
Jurisdiction
Responsibility for oversight of agencies, departments, and programs within the jurisdiction of the full committee, and for conducting investigations within such jurisdiction.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over domestic and international sport, has investigated reports of abuse in sports, and has led congressional efforts to enact new laws to at better protect athletes. It has an interest in sexual assault, sexual misconduct, sexual mistreatment, sexual harassment, and other sexual offenses in the U.S. Olympic movement and organized sports.
Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Morgan Griffith, Virginia
Debbie Lesko, Arizona, Vice Chair
Michael C. Burgess, Texas
Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
Jeff Duncan, South Carolina
Gary Palmer, Alabama
Dan Crenshaw, Texas
Kelly Armstrong, North Dakota
Kat Cammack, Florida
Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Kathy Castor, Florida
Diana DeGette, Colorado
Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
Paul Tonko, New York
Raul Ruiz, California
Scott Peters, California
More Information
Opinion Pieces
Source: Committee website
Campaign Finance
Source: Open Secrets webpages
