Environmental Science Policy and Congress
Listed and described below are the Congressional Committees with jurisdiction in matters of science and the environment.  Links to the Committee websites provide access to current member information, hearing schedules, subcommittees and publications.  

Senate Committees

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry 
  Jurisdiction includes agricultural economics research, forestry and forest reserves and wilderness areas other than those created from the public domain and rural development.                              
• Committee on Appropriations
  Appropriates funds for all federal departments and agencies. 
  • Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee
    Appropriations for Department of Agriculture (except Forest Service) and the Food and Drug Administration.  
  • Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary Subcommittee
    Appropriations for Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, Department of State (except migration and refugee assistance), Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, International Trade Commission, and Marine Mammal Commission.  
  • Energy and Water Development Subcommittee
    Appropriations for Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of the Interior, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Office of Water Policy.  
  • Foreign Operations Subcommittee
    Appropriations for Agency for International Development, Department of State, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), and International Monetary Fund. 
  • Interior Subcommittee
    Appropriations for Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, Forest Service (USDA) and Smithsonian Institution. 
  • Veterans Affairs, HUD and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
    Appropriations for Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Commission on Air Quality, National Science Foundation and Office of Science and Technology policy.
• Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
  Jurisdiction includes urban development and urban mass transit.  Renegotiates Government contracts.    
• Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
  Jurisdiction includes coastal zone management, inland waterways, marine fisheries, nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences, oceans, weather and atmospheric activities and science, engineering and technology research and development policy.           
  • Oceans, Atmosphere and Fisheries Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (oceans), coastal zone management and fisheries and marine mammals.                 
  • Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Office of Science and Technology Policy, federal research and development funding and international science and technology.                      
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  Jurisdiction includes energy policy, energy regulation and conservation, energy research and development, National Parks, recreation areas, wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, nonmilitary development of nuclear energy, and hydroelectric power. 
  • Energy Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes nuclear, coal and synthetic fuels research and development, nuclear fuel cycle policy, DOE National laboratories, global climate change, new technologies research and development, federal energy conservation programs, energy information and utility policy.  
  • National Parks Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes National Park System, Wild and Scenic Rivers System, National Trails System, National recreation areas, and outdoor recreation resources.  
  • Public Land and Forests Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, establishment of wildlife refuges and designation of wilderness on public lands, reserved water rights, and national mining and minerals policy.  
  • Water and Power Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes energy development impact on water resources and groundwater resources and management.
• Committee on Environment and Public Works
  Jurisdiction includes environmental policy, environmental research and development, fisheries and wildlife, environmental effects of toxic substances other than pesticides, water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, regional economic development and construction and maintenance of highways. 
  • Clean Air, Wetlands and Climate Change Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Clean Air Act, indoor air, nuclear regulation, wetlands, National Environmental Policy Act and disaster relief (FEMA).  
  • Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Safe Drinking Water Act, fisheries and wildlife issues, Endangered Species Act and National wildlife refuges.  
  • Superfund, Toxics, Risk and Waste Management Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Toxic Substances Control Act and research and development (including cost-benefit analysis).   
  • Transportation, Infrastructure, and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes water resources, highways and public buildings.
• Committee on Foreign Relations 
  Jurisdiction includes International Monetary Fund, oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs as they relate to foreign policy, treaties and executive agreements (except reciprocal trade agreements), United Nations, and the World Bank group.  
  • International Economic Policy, Export and Trade Promotion Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes U.S. bilateral humanitarian, development, economic, trade and security assistance programs.  Jurisdiction also includes policies involving the use, development and protection of the environment, including the oceans and space.  
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
  Jurisdiction includes education, labor, health and public welfare, biomedical research and agricultural colleges.        
• Committee on Indian Affairs
  Jurisdiction includes Indian land management and trust responsibilities.    

House Committees

• Committee on Agriculture
  Jurisdiction includes agricultural economics and research, forestry in general and forest reserves other than those created from the public domain and rural development. 
  • Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes soil, water and resource conservation, rural development and energy and biobased energy production. 
  • Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes agency oversight, forestry in general and forest reserves other than those created from the public domain.
• Committee on Appropriations
  Appropriates funds for all government departments and agencies. 
  • Defense Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Department of Defense. 
  • Energy and Water Development Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of the Interior (Bureau of Reclamation) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
  • Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Department of State, Global Environment Facility, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and International Monetary Fund programs. 
  • Interior and Related Agencies Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, Forest Service (USDA) and Smithsonian Institution. 
  • Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Department of Education. 
  • Veterans Affairs, HUD and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation and Office of Science and Technology Policy.
• Committee on Armed Services
  Jurisdiction includes the Department of Defense.                 
• Committee on Education and the Workforce
  Jurisdiction includes education policy in general. 
  • Twenty-first Century Competitiveness Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes education and training beyond the high school level and science and technology programs. 
  • Select Education Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes environmental education programs.
• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  Jurisdiction includes biomedical research and development, regulation of energy resources and general national energy policy 
  • Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes national energy policy, energy conservation, nuclear energy and waste and the Clean Air Act.  
  • Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes environmental protection including the Safe Water Drinking Act and Superfund.
• Committee on Financial Services
  Jurisdiction includes international financial and monetary organizations.              
• Committee on International Relations
  Jurisdiction includes international education, international economic policy and United Nations organizations. 
  • International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes United Nations, implementation of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and oversight of international population planning.
• Committee on Resources 
  Jurisdiction includes environmental and habitat policy. 
  • Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes U.S. Geological Survey, geothermal resources and mineral resources on public lands.  
  • Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes fisheries management and research, management of wildlife resources including research and conservation and efforts to improve international programs for the protection of the environment.  
  • Forests and Forest Health Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes public forest lands, Wild and Scenic Rivers System and National Trails System.  
  • National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes National Park System, Wild and Scenic Rivers System, National Trails System, land and water conservation funds and cooperative efforts to promote international programs for the protection of environment and the conservation of natural resources. 
  • Water and Power Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Water and Resource Planning Act, water resources  development and recycling programs and cooperative efforts to promote international programs for the protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources.
• Committee on Science
  Jurisdiction includes energy research and development, federal energy laboratories, Astronautical research and development, environmental research and development, marine research, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Weather Service, science scholarships and scientific research, development and demonstration. 
  • Energy Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Department of Energy laboratories and science activities, energy supply activities, nuclear, solar, renewable, and other advanced energy technologies, energy conservation research and development and energy aspects of climate change. 
  • Environment, Technology and Standards Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes environmental research and development, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Environmental Protection Agency, biotechnology policy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research and scientific issues related to environmental policy including climate change. 
  • Research Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes Office of Science and Technology Policy, math, science and engineering education, National Science Foundation, university research policy, science scholarships, biomedical research and development and geological, biological and life sciences research. 
  • Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes aeronautical research and development and Earth remote sensing policy,
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  Jurisdiction includes federal management of emergencies and natural disasters, inland waterways and the Smithsonian Institution.
  • Highways and Transit Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes air quality aspects of the Clean Air Act.           
  • Water Resources and the Environment Subcommittee
    Jurisdiction includes civil works program of the Army Corps of Engineers. 

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