Senate
Standing Committees (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/briefing/Standing_Rules_Senate.htm#25)
[Excerpted from the 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:
(a)(1) Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, to which committee shall be referred
all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating primarily to the following subjects:
1. Agricultural economics and
research.
2. Agricultural extension
services and experiment stations.
3. Agricultural production,
marketing, and stabilization of prices.
4. Agriculture and agricultural
commodities.
5. Animal industry and diseases.
6. Crop insurance and soil
conservation.
7. Farm credit and farm
security.
8. Food from fresh waters.
9. Food stamp programs.
10. Forestry, and forest
reserves and wilderness areas other than those created from the public domain.
11. Home economics.
12. Human nutrition.
13. Inspection of livestock,
meat, and agricultural products.
14. Pests and pesticides.
15. Plant industry, soils, and
agricultural engineering.
16. Rural development, rural
electrification, and watersheds.
17. School nutrition programs.
(2) Such committee shall also
study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to food,
nutrition, and hunger, both in the United States and in foreign countries, and
rural affairs, and report thereon from time to time.
(b) Committee on Appropriations, to which committee shall be referred all proposed
legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the
following subjects:
1. Appropriation of the revenue
for the support of the Government, except as provided in subparagraph (e).
2. Rescission of appropriations
contained in appropriation Acts (referred to in section 105 of title 1, United
States Code).
3. The amount of new spending
authority described in section 401(c)(2) (A) and (B)
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 which is to be effective for a fiscal
year.
4. New spending authority
described in section 401(c)(2)(C) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
provided in bills and resolutions referred to the committee under section
401(b)(2) of that Act (but subject to the provisions of section 401(b)(3) of
that Act).
(c)(1) Committee on Armed Services, to which committee shall be referred all
proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the following subjects:
1. Aeronautical and space
activities peculiar to or primarily associated with the development of weapons
systems or military operations.
2. Common defense.
3. Department of Defense, the
Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the
Air Force, generally.
4. Maintenance and operation of
the
5. Military research and
development.
6. National security aspects of
nuclear energy.
7. Naval petroleum reserves,
except those in
8. Pay, promotion, retirement,
and other benefits and privileges of members of the Armed Forces, including
overseas education of civilian and military dependents.
9. Selective service system.
10. Strategic and critical
materials necessary for the common defense.
(2) Such committee shall also
study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to the common
defense policy of the
(d)(1) Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, to which committee shall be referred
all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the following subjects:
1. Banks, banking, and financial
institutions.
2. Control of prices of commodities,
rents, and services.
3. Deposit insurance.
4. Economic stabilization and
defense production.
5. Export and foreign trade
promotion.
6. Export controls.
7. Federal monetary policy,
including Federal Reserve System.
8. Financial aid to commerce and
industry.
9. Issuance and redemption of
notes.
10. Money and credit, including
currency and coinage.
11. Nursing home construction.
12. Public and private housing
(including veterans' housing).
13. Renegotiation of Government
contracts.
14. 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.
(e)(1) Committee on the Budget, to which committee shall be referred all concurrent
resolutions on the budget (as defined in section 3(a)(4) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974) and all other matters required to be referred to that
committee under titles III and IV of that Act, and messages, petitions,
memorials, and other matters relating thereto.
(2) Such committee shall have
the duty
(A) to
report the matters required to be reported by it under titles III and IV of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974;
(B) to
make continuing studies of the effect on budget outlays of relevant existing
and proposed legislation and to report the results of such studies to the
Senate on a recurring basis;
(C) to request and evaluate
continuing studies of tax expenditures, to devise methods of coordinating tax
expenditures, policies, and programs with direct budget outlays, and to report
the results of such studies to the Senate on a recurring basis; and
(D) to
review, on a continuing basis, the conduct by the Congressional Budget Office
of its functions and duties.
(f)(1) Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to which committee shall be referred
all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the following subjects:
1. Coast Guard.
2. Coastal zone management.
3. Communications.
4. Highway safety.
5. Inland waterways, except
construction.
6. Interstate commerce.
7. Marine and ocean navigation,
safety, and transportation, including navigational aspects of deepwater ports.
8. Marine fisheries.
9. Merchant marine and
navigation.
10. Nonmilitary aeronautical and
space sciences.
12.
13. Regulation of consumer
products and services, including testing related to toxic substances, other
than pesticides, and except for credit, financial services, and housing.
14. Regulation of interstate
common carriers, including railroads, buses, trucks, vessels, pipelines, and
civil aviation.
15. Science, engineering, and
technology research and development and policy.
16. Sports.
17. Standards and measurement.
18. Transportation.
19. Transportation and commerce
aspects of Outer Continental Shelf lands.
(2) Such committee shall also
study and review, on a comprehensive basis, all matters relating to science and
technology, oceans policy, transportation, communications, and consumer
affairs, and report thereon from time to time.
(g)(1) Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which committee shall be referred
all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the following subjects:
1. Coal production,
distribution, and utilization.
2. Energy policy.
3. Energy regulation and
conservation.
4. Energy related aspects of
deepwater ports.
5. Energy research and development.
6. Extraction of minerals from
oceans and Outer Continental Shelf lands.
7. Hydroelectric power,
irrigation, and reclamation.
8. Mining education and
research.
9. Mining, mineral lands, mining
claims, and mineral conservation.
10. National parks, recreation
areas, wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, historical sites, military
parks and battlefields, and on the public domain, preservation of prehistoric
ruins and objects of interest.
11. Naval petroleum reserves in
12. Nonmilitary development of
nuclear energy.
13. Oil and gas production and
distribution.
14. Public lands and forests,
including farming and grazing thereon, and mineral extraction therefrom.
15. Solar energy systems.
16. Territorial possessions of
the
(2) Such committee shall also
study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to energy and
resources development, and report thereon from time to time.
(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:
1. Air pollution.
2. Construction and maintenance
of highways.
3. Environmental aspects of
Outer Continental Shelf lands.
4. Environmental effects of
toxic substances, other than pesticides.
5. Environmental policy.
6. Environmental research and
development.
7. Fisheries and wildlife.
8. Flood control and
improvements of rivers and harbors, including environmental aspects of
deepwater ports.
9. Noise pollution.
10. Nonmilitary environmental
regulation and control of nuclear energy.
12. Public buildings and
improved grounds of the
13. Public works, bridges, and
dams.
14. Regional economic
development.
15. Solid waste disposal and
recycling.
16. Water pollution.
17. 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.
(i) Committee on Finance, to which committee shall be referred all
proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the following subjects:
1. Bonded debt of the
2. Customs, collection
districts, and ports of entry and delivery.
3. Deposit of public moneys.
4. General revenue sharing.
5. Health programs under the
Social Security Act and health programs financed by a specific tax or trust
fund.
6. National social security.
7. Reciprocal trade agreements.
8. Revenue measures generally,
except as provided in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
9. Revenue measures relating to
the insular possessions.
10. Tariffs and import quotas,
and matters related thereto.
11. Transportation of dutiable
goods.
(j)(1) Committee on Foreign Relations, to which committee shall be referred
all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the following subjects:
1. Acquisition of land and
buildings for embassies and legations in foreign countries.
2. Boundaries of the
3. Diplomatic service.
4. Foreign economic, military,
technical, and humanitarian assistance.
5. Foreign loans.
6. International activities of
the American National Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red
Cross.
7. International aspects of
nuclear energy, including nuclear transfer policy.
8. International conferences and
congresses.
9. International law as it
relates to foreign policy.
10. International Monetary Fund
and other international organizations established primarily for international
monetary purposes (except that, at the request of the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs, any proposed legislation relating to such subjects
reported by the Committee on Foreign Relations shall be referred to the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs).
11. Intervention abroad and
declarations of war.
12. Measures to foster
commercial intercourse with foreign nations and to safeguard American business
interests abroad.
13. National security and
international aspects of trusteeships of the
15. Protection of
16. Relations of the
17. Treaties and executive
agreements, except reciprocal trade agreements.
18. United Nations and its
affiliated organizations.
19. World Bank group, the
regional development banks, and other international organizations established
primarily for development assistance purposes.
(2) Such committee shall also
study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to the national
security policy, foreign policy, and international economic policy as it
relates to foreign policy of the United States, and matters relating to food,
hunger, and nutrition in foreign countries, and report thereon from time to
time.
(k)(1) Committee on Governmental Affairs, to which committee shall be referred all
proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the following subjects:
1. Archives of the
2. Budget and accounting
measures, other than appropriations, except as provided in the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974.
3. Census and collection of
statistics, including economic and social statistics.
4. Congressional organization,
except for any part of the matter that amends the rules or orders of the
Senate.
5. Federal Civil Service.
6. Government information.
7. Intergovernmental relations.
8. Municipal affairs of the
9. Organization and management
of
10. Organization and
reorganization of the executive branch of the Government.
11. Postal Service.
12. Status of officers and
employees of the
(2) Such committee shall have
the duty of
(A) receiving and examining reports
of the Comptroller General of the United States and of submitting such
recommendations to the Senate as it deems necessary or desirable in connection
with the subject matter of such reports;
(B) studying
the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of all agencies and departments of
the Government;
(C) evaluating
the effects of laws enacted to reorganize the legislative and executive
branches of the Government; and
(D) studying
the intergovernmental relationships between the
(l) Committee on the Judiciary, to which committee shall be referred
all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the following subjects:
1. Apportionment of
Representatives.
2. Bankruptcy, mutiny,
espionage, and counterfeiting.
3. Civil liberties.
4. Constitutional amendments.
5. Federal courts and judges.
6. Government information.
7. Holidays and celebrations.
8. Immigration and
naturalization.
9. Interstate compacts
generally.
10. Judicial proceedings, civil
and criminal, generally.
11. Local courts in the
territories and possessions.
12. Measures relating to claims
against the
13. National penitentiaries.
14. Patent Office.
15. Patents, copyrights, and
trademarks.
16. Protection of trade and
commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies.
17. Revision and codification of
the statutes of the
18. State and territorial
boundary lines.
(m)(1) Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to which committee shall be referred all
proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the following subjects:
1. Measures relating to
education, labor, health, and public welfare.
2. Aging.
3. Agricultural colleges.
4. Arts and humanities.
5. Biomedical research and
development.
6. Child labor.
7. Convict labor and the entry
of goods made by convicts into interstate commerce.
8. Domestic activities of the
American National Red Cross.
9. Equal employment opportunity.
10.
11. Individuals with
disabilities.
12. Labor standards and labor
statistics.
13. Mediation and arbitration of
labor disputes.
14. Occupational safety and
health, including the welfare of miners.
15. Private pension plans.
16. Public health.
17. Railway labor and
retirement.
18. Regulation of foreign
laborers.
19. Student loans.
20. Wages and hours of labor.
(2) 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.
(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:
1. Administration of the
2. Congressional organization
relative to rules and procedures, and Senate rules and regulations, including
floor and gallery rules.
3. Corrupt practices.
4. Credentials and
qualifications of Members of the Senate, contested elections, and acceptance of
incompatible offices.
5. Federal elections generally,
including the election of the President, Vice President, and Members of the
Congress.
6. Government Printing Office,
and the printing and correction of the Congressional Record, as well as those
matters provided for under rule XI.
7. Meetings of the Congress and
attendance of Members.
8. 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).
9. Presidential succession.
10. Purchase of books and
manuscripts and erection of monuments to the memory of individuals.
11. Senate Library and statuary,
art, and pictures in the Capitol and
12. Services to the Senate,
including the Senate restaurant.
13. 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;
(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; and develop, implement, and update as necessary a strategy 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.
(o)(1) Committee on Small Business, to which committee shall be referred all
proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the Small Business Administration.
(2) Any proposed legislation
reported by such committee which relates to matters other than the functions of
the Small Business Administration shall, at the request of the chairman of any
standing committee having jurisdiction over the subject matter extraneous to
the functions of the Small Business Administration, be considered and reported
by such standing committee prior to its consideration by the Senate; and likewise
measures reported by other committees directly relating to the Small Business
Administration shall, at the request of the chairman of the Committee on Small
Business, be referred to the Committee on Small Business for its consideration
of any portions of the measure dealing with the Small Business Administration,
and be reported by this committee prior to its consideration by the Senate.
(3) Such committee shall also
study and survey by means of research and investigation all problems of
American small business enterprises, and report thereon from time to time.
(p) Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to which committee shall be referred all
proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters
relating to the following subjects:
1. Compensation of veterans.
2. Life insurance issued by the
Government on account of service in the Armed Forces.
3. National cemeteries.
4. Pensions of all wars of the
5. Readjustment of servicemen to
civil life.
6. Soldiers' and sailors' civil
relief.
7. Veterans' hospitals, medical
care and treatment of veterans.
8. Veterans' measures generally.
9. Vocational rehabilitation and
education of veterans.
2. Except as otherwise provided
by paragraph 4 of this rule, each of the following standing committees shall
consist of the number of Senators set forth in the following table on the line
on which the name of that committee appears:
Committee / Members
Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry / 18
Appropriations / 28
Armed Services / 18
Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs / 18
Commerce, Science, and
Transportation / 20
Energy and Natural Resources /
20
Environment and Public Works /
18
Finance / 20
Foreign Relations / 18
Governmental Affairs / 16
Judiciary / 18
H.E.L.P. / 18
3.(a) Except as otherwise
provided by paragraph 4 of this rule, each of the following standing committees
shall consist of the number of Senators set forth in the following table on the
line on which the name of that committee appears: