List of United States Senate committees explained
This is a complete list of U.S. congressional committees (standing committees and select or special committees) that are operating in the United States Senate. Senators can be a member of more than one committee.
Standing committees
, there are 88 subsidiary bodies of the US Senate: 16 standing committees with 67 subcommittees, and five non-standing committees.
| Committee | Chair | Ranking Member | Refs |
|---|
| Subcommittee |
|---|
|
|---|
| Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry | | Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) | | John Boozman (R-AR) | [1] [2] |
|---|
| Commodities, Risk Management and Trade | | Tina Smith (D-MN) | | Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) | [3] |
|---|
| Conservation, Climate, Forestry and Natural Resources | | Michael Bennet (D-CO) | | Roger Marshall (R-KS) |
| Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics and Research | | John Fetterman (D-PA) | | Mike Braun (R-IN) |
| Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems and Food Safety and Security | | Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) | | John Hoeven (R-ND) |
| Rural Development and Energy | | Pete Welch (D-VT) | | Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) |
| Appropriations | | Patty Murray (D-WA) | | Susan Collins (R-ME) | |
|---|
| Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies | | Martin Heinrich (D-NM) | | John Hoeven (R-ND) | [4] |
|---|
| Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies | | Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) | | Jerry Moran (R-KS) |
| Defense | | Jon Tester (D-MT) | | Susan Collins (R-ME) |
| Energy and Water Development | | Patty Murray (D-WA)
| | John Kennedy (R-LA) |
| Financial Services and General Government | | Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) | | Bill Hagerty (R-TN) |
| Homeland Security | | Chris Murphy (D-CT) | | Katie Britt (R-AL) |
| Interior, Environment and Related Agencies | | Jeff Merkley (D-OR) | | Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) |
| Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies | | Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) | | Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) |
| Legislative Branch | | Jack Reed (D-RI) | | Deb Fischer (R-NE) |
| Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies | | Patty Murray (D-WA) | | John Boozman (R-AR) |
| State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs | | Chris Coons (D-DE) | | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) |
| Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies | | Brian Schatz (D-HI) | | Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) |
| Armed Services | | Jack Reed (D-RI) | | Roger Wicker (R-MS) | |
|---|
| Airland | | Mark Kelly (D-AZ) | | Tom Cotton (R-AR) | [5] |
|---|
| Cybersecurity | | Joe Manchin (I-WV) | | Mike Rounds (R-SD) |
| Emerging Threats and Capabilities | | Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) | | Joni Ernst (R-IA) |
| Personnel | | Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) | | Rick Scott (R-FL) |
| Readiness and Management Support | | Mazie Hirono (D-HI) | | Dan Sullivan (R-AK) |
| Seapower | | Tim Kaine (D-VA) | | Kevin Cramer (R-ND) |
| Strategic Forces | | Angus King (I-ME) | | Deb Fischer (R-NE) |
| Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs | | Sherrod Brown (D-OH) | | Tim Scott (R-SC) | |
|---|
| Economic Policy | | Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) | | John Kennedy (R-LA) | [6] |
|---|
| Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection | | Raphael Warnock (D-GA) | | Thom Tillis (R-NC) |
| Housing, Transportation and Community Development | | Tina Smith (D-MN) | | Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) |
| National Security and International Trade and Finance | | Mark Warner (D-VA) | | Bill Hagerty (R-TN) |
| Securities, Insurance and Investment | | Bob Menendez (I-NJ) | | Mike Rounds (R-SD) |
| Budget | | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | | Chuck Grassley (R-IA)[7] | |
|---|
| Commerce, Science and Transportation | | Maria Cantwell (D-WA) | | Ted Cruz (R-TX) | |
|---|
| Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation | | Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) | | Jerry Moran (R-KS) | [8] |
|---|
| Communications, Media and Broadband | | Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) | | John Thune (R-SD) |
| Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Security | | John Hickenlooper (D-CO) | | Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) |
| Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing | | Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) | | Dan Sullivan (R-AK) |
| Space and Science | | Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) | | Eric Schmitt (R-MO) |
| Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports | | Gary Peters (D-MI) | | Todd Young (R-IN) |
| Tourism, Trade and Export Promotion | | Jacky Rosen (D-NV) | | Ted Budd (R-NC) |
| Energy and Natural Resources | | Joe Manchin (I-WV) | | John Barrasso (R-WY) | |
|---|
| Energy | | Mazie Hirono (D-HI) | | John Hoeven (R-ND) | [9] |
|---|
| National Parks | | Angus King (I-ME) | | Steve Daines (R-MT) |
| Public Lands, Forests and Mining | | Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) | | Mike Lee (R-UT) |
| Water and Power | | Ron Wyden (D-OR) | | Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) |
| Environment and Public Works | | Tom Carper (D-DE) | | Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) | |
|---|
| Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight | | Jeff Merkley (D-OR) | | Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) | [10] |
|---|
| Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety | | Ed Markey (D-MA) | | Pete Ricketts (R-NE) |
| Fisheries, Water and Wildlife | | Alex Padilla (D-CA) | | Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) |
| Transportation and Infrastructure | | Mark Kelly (D-AZ) | | Kevin Cramer (R-ND) |
| Finance | | Ron Wyden (D-OR) | | Mike Crapo (R-ID) | |
|---|
| Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure | | Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) | | James Lankford (R-OK) | [11] |
|---|
| Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth | | Maggie Hassan (D-NH) | | Chuck Grassley (R-IA) |
| Health Care | | Ben Cardin (D-MD) | | Steve Daines (R-MT) |
| International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness | | Tom Carper (D-DE) | | John Cornyn (R-TX) |
| Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy | | Sherrod Brown (D-OH) | | Thom Tillis (R-NC) |
| Taxation and IRS Oversight | | Michael Bennet (D-CO) | | John Thune (R-SD) |
| Foreign Relations | | Ben Cardin (D-MD) | | Jim Risch (R-ID) | |
|---|
| Africa and Global Health Policy | | Cory Booker (D-NJ) | | Tim Scott (R-SC) | [12] |
|---|
| East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy | | Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) | | Mitt Romney (R-UT) |
| Europe and Regional Security Cooperation | | Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) | | Pete Ricketts (R-NE) |
| Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions and International Economic, Energy and Environmental Policy | | Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) | | John Barrasso (R-WY) |
| Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism | | Chris Murphy (D-CT) | | Todd Young (R-IN) |
| State Department and USAID Management, International Operations and Bilateral International Development | | Ben Cardin (D-MD) | | Bill Hagerty (R-TN) |
| Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women's Issues | | Tim Kaine (D-VA) | | Marco Rubio (R-FL) |
| Health, Education, Labor and Pensions | | Bernie Sanders (I-VT) | | Bill Cassidy (R-LA) | |
|---|
| Children and Families | | Bob Casey (D-PA) | | Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) | [13] |
|---|
| Employment and Workplace Safety | | John Hickenlooper (D-CO) | | Mike Braun (R-IN) |
| Primary Health and Retirement Security | | Ed Markey (D-MA) | | Roger Marshall (R-KS) |
| Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | | Gary Peters (D-MI) | | Rand Paul (R-KY) | |
|---|
| Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight | | Maggie Hassan (D-NH) | | Mitt Romney (R-UT) | [14] |
|---|
| Government Operations and Border Management | | Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) | | James Lankford (R-OK) |
| Investigations (Permanent) | | Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) | | Ron Johnson (R-WI) |
| Judiciary | | Dick Durbin (D-IL) | | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) | |
|---|
| Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights | | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | | Mike Lee (R-UT) | [15] |
|---|
| The Constitution | | Laphonza Butler (D-CA) | | Ted Cruz (R-TX) |
| Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism | | Cory Booker (D-NJ) | | Tom Cotton (R-AR) |
| Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights | | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | | John Kennedy (R-LA) |
| Human Rights and the Law | | Jon Ossoff (D-GA) | | Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) |
| Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety | | Alex Padilla (D-CA) | | John Cornyn (R-TX) |
| Intellectual Property | | Chris Coons (D-DE) | | Thom Tillis (R-NC) |
| Privacy, Technology and the Law | | Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) | | Josh Hawley (R-MO) |
| Rules and Administration | | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | | Deb Fischer (R-NE) | |
|---|
| Small Business and Entrepreneurship | | Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) | | Joni Ernst (R-IA) | |
|---|
| Veterans' Affairs | | Jon Tester (D-MT) | | Jerry Moran (R-KS) | | |
|---|
Non-standing committees
There are five non-standing, select, or special committees, which are treated similarly to standing committees.[16]
Committee classes
Senate committees are divided, according to relative importance, into three categories: Class A, Class B, and Class C. In general, individual Senators are limited to service on two Class A committees and one Class B committee. Assignment to Class C committees is made without reference to a member's service on any other panels.[18]
Standing committees
Standing committees are permanent bodies with specific responsibilities spelled out in the Senate's rules. Twelve of the sixteen current standing committees are Class A panels: Agriculture; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; Finance; Foreign Relations; Governmental Affairs; Judiciary; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
There are four Class B standing committees: Budget, Rules and Administration, Small Business, and Veterans' Affairs. There are currently no Class C standing committees.
Other, select and special committees
Other (i.e., Indian Affairs), select and special committees are ranked as Class B or Class C committees. They are created for clearly specified purposes. There are currently two Class B committees: the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Special Committee on Aging, and two Class C committees: the Select Committee on Indian Affairs and the Select Committee on Ethics.
Joint committees
Joint Committees are used for purposes of legislative and administrative coordination. At present there are four: the Joint Economic Committee (Class B), the Joint Committee on the Library (Class C), the Joint Committee on Printing (Class C), and the Joint Committee on Taxation (Class C).
Jurisdiction
Standing committees in the Senate have their jurisdiction set by three primary sources: Senate Rules, ad hoc Senate Resolutions, and Senate Resolutions related to committee funding. To see an overview of the jurisdictions of standing committees in the Senate, see Standing Rules of the United States Senate, Rule XXV.
Party leadership
Each party determines their committees leads, who serve as chair in the majority and ranking member in the minority. The table below lists the tenure of when each member was selected for their current term as committee lead. The Republican party rules stipulate that their leads of standing committees may serve no more than three congressional terms (two years each) as chair or ranking member, unless the full party conference grants them a waiver to do so.[19] The current majority party is listed first for each committee.
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Majority Leader Schumer Announces Senate Democratic Committee Memberships For The 118th Congress . Schumer . Chuck . January 26, 2023 . . February 15, 2023.
- Web site: McConnell Announces Senate Republican Committee Assignments for the 118th Congress . February 15, 2023.
- Web site: February 4, 2021 . Subcommittee rosters . March 3, 2021 . United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
- Web site: Murray, Collins Announce Appropriations Subcommittees Leadership and Rosters for 118th Congress . Murray . Patty . Collins . Susan . February 15, 2023 . . February 15, 2023.
- Web site: REED, WICKER ANNOUNCE SASC SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS FOR 118TH CONGRESS . Reed . Jack . Wicker . Roger . February 7, 2023 . . February 15, 2023.
- Web site: Chairman Brown and Ranking Member Scott Announce Banking and Housing Subcommittee Assignments for 118th Congress . Brown . Sherrod . Scott . Timothy . March 1, 2021 . . February 15, 2023.
- Web site: Q&A: 118th Congress | U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa .
- Web site: Subcommittees of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for the 118th Congress . . March 3, 2021.
- Web site: Subcommittes . . 15 February 2023.
- Web site: Carper, Capito Announce EPW Subcommittee Assignments for the 118th Congress . Carper . Tom . Capito . Shelley Moore . February 9, 2023 . . February 15, 2023.
- Web site: Wyden, Crapo Announce Senate Finance Subcommittee Assignments . Wyden . Ron . Crapo . Mike . February 9, 2023 . . February 15, 2023.
- Web site: Membership and Jurisdiction of Subcommittees . . March 3, 2021.
- Web site: Senator Murray Announces HELP Subcommittee Assignments . Murray . Patty . March 2, 2021 . . March 3, 2021.
- Web site: Dr. Paul, Peters Announce Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Subcommittee Membership . Peters . Gary . Paul . Rand . February 9, 2023 . . February 15, 2023.
- Web site: Senate Judiciary Committee Announces Subcommittee Assignments for the 117th Congress . Durbin . Dick . Grassley . Chuck . March 1, 2021 . . March 3, 2021.
- Web site: Committees Home . United States Senate, at Senate.gov . November 2, 2011.
- Web site: Cornyn, Feinstein Appointed Chairs of Senate Narcotics Control Caucus . Cornyn . John . January 22, 2019 . February 8, 2019.
- Web site: Committee Assignment Process in the U.S. Senate: Democratic and Republican Party Procedures. CRS Report for Congress. Congressional Research Service. 18 April 2011.
- Web site: The 117 Congress: History, Rules, and Precedents the Senate Republican Conference . February 20, 2023 . . IV.B. Standing Committee Chair/Ranking Member Term Limits (1) A Senator shall serve no more than six years, cumulatively, as chairman of the same standing committee. This limitation shall not preclude a Senator from serving for six years, cumulatively, as chairman of other committees, in series, if the Senator's seniority and election by committee members provides the opportunity for such additional service. (2) Service as ranking member shall also be limited to six years, cumulatively, in the same pattern as described in (1) above. Time served as ranking member shall not be counted as time served as chairman. Once a Senator has completed six years as chairman of a committee, there will be no further opportunity for that Senator to serve as ranking member of that same committee if control of the Senate shifts and Republicans go into the minority. The opportunity for service as ranking member, outlined in (2) above, takes place either before or in interruption of the Senator's six-year term as chairman, not after..
