United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce

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.

Jurisdiction

The Energy and Commerce Committee has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee in Congress. 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

Members, 119th Congress

Resolutions electing members: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (R), (D), (Menendez)

Subcommittees

To manage the wide variety of issues it encounters, the committee relies on the front-line work of six subcommittees, one more than during the 111th Congress. During the 111th Congress, Henry Waxman combined the traditionally separate energy and environment subcommittees into a single subcommittee. Fred Upton restored them as separate subcommittees at the start of the 112th Congress, and they have been retained to this day.

Historical membership rosters

118th Congress

Resolutions electing members: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (R), (D), (R)

;Subcommittees

117th Congress

Resolutions electing members: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (D), (R)

;Subcommittees

116th Congress

Sources: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (D), (R)

;Subcommittees

115th Congress

Sources: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (R) and (D).

114th Congress

History

The committee was originally formed as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures on December 14, 1795. Prior to this, legislation was drafted in the Committee of the Whole or in special ad hoc committees, appointed for specific limited purposes. However the growing demands of the new nation required that Congress establish a permanent committee to manage its constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause to "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States."

From this time forward, as the nation grew and Congress dealt with new public policy concerns and created new committees, the Energy and Commerce Committee has maintained its central position as Congress's monitor of commercial progress—a focus reflected in its changing jurisdiction, both in name and practice.

In 1819, the committee's name was changed to the Committee on Commerce, reflecting the creation of a separate Manufacturers Committee and also the increasing scope of and complexity of American commercial activity, which was expanding the committee's jurisdiction from navigational aids and the nascent general health service to foreign trade and tariffs. Thomas J. Bliley, who chaired the committee from 1995 to 2000, chose to use this traditional name, which underscores the committee's role for Congress on this front.

In 1891, in emphasis of the committee's evolving activities, the name was again changed to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce—a title it maintained until 1981, when, under incoming Chair John Dingell, the committee first assumed what is now its present name to emphasize its lead role in guiding the energy policy of the United States. Dingell regained leading of the committee in 2007 after having served as ranking member since 1995. In late 2008, Henry Waxman initiated a successful challenge to unseat Dingell as chair. His challenge was unusual as the party caucus traditionally elects chairs based on committee seniority. Waxman formally became chair at the start of the 111th Congress.

Leadership

A list of former chairs is below.

Committee on Commerce and Manufactures (1795–1819)

Committee on Commerce (1819–1891)

Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (1891–1981)

Committee on Energy and Commerce (1981–present)

References

References

1. (8 December 2020). "AOC, Rice face off for powerful committee post".
2. (December 19, 2013). "About E&C".
3. (2014-01-06). "Jurisdiction".
4. "Chairman Guthrie Announces Changes to E&C Republican Subcommittee Leadership and Assignments".
5. (January 14, 2025). "Pallone Announces Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Ranking Members and Democratic Roster for the 119th Congress". Energy & Commerce Committee Democrats.
6. (January 8, 2009). "House Energy and Commerce Committee announces Subcommittee Chairs and Membership". Energy and Commerce Committee Press Release.
7. (January 14, 2025). "Chairman Guthrie Announces 119th Energy and Commerce Republican Subcommittee Assignments".
8. "Chair Rodgers Announces Energy and Commerce Committee Leadership, Subcommittee Membership for the 118th Congress".
9. (2023-01-27). "Pallone Announces Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Ranking Members and Democratic Roster".
10. (15 January 2021). "Pallone Announces Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Chairs and Democratic Roster". Democrats, Energy and Commerce Committee.
11. (21 January 2021). "Rodgers Announces Energy and Commerce Republican Subcommittee Leaders and Republican Roster".
12. (15 January 2021). "Pallone Announces Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Chairs and Democratic Roster". Democrats, Energy and Commerce Committee.
13. (21 January 2021). "Rodgers Announces Energy and Commerce Republican Subcommittee Leaders and Republican Roster".
14. (15 January 2021). "Pallone Announces Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Chairs and Democratic Roster". Democrats, Energy and Commerce Committee.
15. {{USBill. 111. HRes. 8
16. (1971). "Historical Data Regarding the Creation and Jurisdiction of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives". U.S. Government Printing Office.
17. (1976). "180 Years of Service: A Brief History of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives, December 1975". U.S. Government Printing Office.