The Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years. The two other House standing committees with such continuous operation are the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Rules Committee. The committee has served 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. Due to its broad jurisdiction, it is considered one of the most powerful committees in the House.
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
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
| valign=top |
- Brett Guthrie, Kentucky, Chair
- Bob Latta, Ohio
- Morgan Griffith, Virginia
- Gus Bilirakis, Florida
- Richard Hudson, North Carolina
- Buddy Carter, Georgia
- Gary Palmer, Alabama
- Neal Dunn, Florida
- Dan Crenshaw, Texas
- John Joyce, Pennsylvania, 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
- John James, Michigan
- Cliff Bentz, Oregon
- Erin Houchin, Indiana
- Russell Fry, South Carolina
- Laurel Lee, Florida
- Nick Langworthy, New York
- Thomas Kean Jr., New Jersey
- Michael Rulli, Ohio
- Gabe Evans, Colorado
- Craig Goldman, Texas
- Julie Fedorchak, North Dakota
| valign=top |
- Frank Pallone, New Jersey, Ranking Member
- Diana DeGette, Colorado
- Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
- Doris Matsui, California
- Kathy Castor, Florida
- Paul Tonko, New York
- Yvette Clarke, New York
- Raul Ruiz, California
- Scott Peters, California
- Debbie Dingell, Michigan
- Marc Veasey, Texas
- Robin Kelly, Illinois
- Nanette Barragán, California
- Darren Soto, Florida
- Kim Schrier, Washington
- Lori Trahan, Massachusetts
- Lizzie Fletcher, Texas, Vice Ranking Member
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York
- Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts
- Troy Carter, Louisiana
- Rob Menendez, New Jersey
- Kevin Mullin, California
- Greg Landsman, Ohio
- Jennifer McClellan, Virginia
|}
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.
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittee
!Chair
!Ranking Member
!Ranking Member
|-
|Communications and Technology
|Bob Latta (R-OH)
|Doris Matsui (D-CA)
|-
|Energy, Climate and Grid Security
|Jeff Duncan (R-SC)
|Diana DeGette (D-CO)
|-
|Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Minerals
|Bill Johnson (R-OH)
|Paul Tonko (D-NY)
|-
|Health
|Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
|Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)
|-
|Innovation, Data and Commerce
|Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
|Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
|-
|Oversight and Investigations
|Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
|Kathy Castor (D-FL)
|}
117th Congress
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
| valign=top |
- Frank Pallone, New Jersey, Chair
- Bobby Rush, Illinois
- Anna Eshoo, California
- Diana DeGette, Colorado
- Mike Doyle, Pennsylvania
- Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
- G. K. Butterfield, North Carolina
- Doris Matsui, California
- Kathy Castor, Florida
- John Sarbanes, Maryland
- Jerry McNerney, California
- Peter Welch, Vermont
- Paul Tonko, New York
- Yvette Clarke, New York
- Kurt Schrader, Oregon
- Tony Cárdenas, California
- Raul Ruiz, California
- Scott Peters, California
- Debbie Dingell, Michigan
- Marc Veasey, Texas
- Ann McLane Kuster, New Hampshire
- Robin Kelly, Illinois, Vice Chair
- Nanette Barragán, California
- Donald McEachin, Virginia (until November 28, 2022)
- Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware
- Darren Soto, Florida
- Tom O'Halleran, Arizona
- Kathleen Rice, New York
- Angie Craig, Minnesota
- Kim Schrier, Washington
- Lori Trahan, Massachusetts
- Lizzie Fletcher, Texas
| valign=top |
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington, Ranking Member
- Fred Upton, Michigan
- Michael C. Burgess, Texas
- Steve Scalise, Louisiana
- Bob Latta, Ohio
- Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
- David McKinley, West Virginia
- Adam Kinzinger, Illinois
- Morgan Griffith, Virginia
- Gus Bilirakis, Florida
- Bill Johnson, Ohio
- Billy Long, Missouri
- Larry Bucshon, Indiana
- Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma
- 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
|}
Resolutions electing members: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (D), (R)
;Subcommittees
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittee
!Chair
!Ranking Member
|-
|Communications and Technology
|Mike Doyle (D-PA)
|Bob Latta (R-OH)
|-
|Consumer Protection and Commerce
|Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
|Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
|-
|Energy
|Bobby Rush (D-IL)
|Fred Upton (R-MI)
|-
|Environment and Climate Change
|Paul Tonko (D-NY)
|David McKinley (R-WV)
|-
|Health
|Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)
|Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
|-
|Oversight and Investigations
|Diana DeGette (D-CO)
|Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
|}
116th Congress
{|class=wikitable
!Majority
!Minority
|-
| valign=top |
- Frank Pallone, New Jersey, Chair
- Bobby Rush, Illinois
- Anna Eshoo, California
- Eliot Engel, New York
- Diana DeGette, Colorado
- Mike Doyle, Pennsylvania
- Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
- G. K. Butterfield, North Carolina
- Doris Matsui, California
- Kathy Castor, Florida
- John Sarbanes, Maryland
- Jerry McNerney, California
- Peter Welch, Vermont
- Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico
- Paul Tonko, New York
- Yvette Clarke, New York, Vice Chair
- Dave Loebsack, Iowa
- Kurt Schrader, Oregon
- Joe Kennedy III, Massachusetts
- Tony Cárdenas, California
- Raul Ruiz, California
- Scott Peters, California
- Debbie Dingell, Michigan
- Marc Veasey, Texas
- Ann McLane Kuster, New Hampshire
- Robin Kelly, Illinois
- Nanette Barragán, California
- Donald McEachin, Virginia
- Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware
- Darren Soto, Florida
- Tom O'Halleran, Arizona
| valign=top |
- Greg Walden, Oregon, Ranking Member
- Fred Upton, Michigan
- John Shimkus, Illinois
- Michael C. Burgess, Texas
- Steve Scalise, Louisiana
- Bob Latta, Ohio
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington
- Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
- Pete Olson, Texas
- David McKinley, West Virginia
- Adam Kinzinger, Illinois
- Morgan Griffith, Virginia
- Gus Bilirakis, Florida
- Bill Johnson, Ohio
- Billy Long, Missouri
- Larry Bucshon, Indiana
- Bill Flores, Texas
- Susan Brooks, Indiana
- Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma
- Richard Hudson, North Carolina
- Tim Walberg, Michigan
- Buddy Carter, Georgia
- Jeff Duncan, South Carolina
- Greg Gianforte, Montana
|}
Sources: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (D), (R)
;Subcommittees
{|class="wikitable"
!Subcommittee
!Chair
!Ranking Member
|-
|Communications and Technology
|Mike Doyle (D-PA)
|Bob Latta (R-OH)
|-
|Consumer Protection and Commerce
|Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
|Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
|-
|Energy
|Bobby Rush (D-IL)
|Fred Upton (R-MI)
|-
|Environment and Climate Change
|Paul Tonko (D-NY)
|David McKinley (R-WV)
|-
|Health
|Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
|Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
|-
|Oversight and Investigations
|Diana DeGette (D-CO)
|Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
|}
115th Congress
{|class="wikitable"
!Majority
!Minority
|-
| valign="top" |
- Greg Walden, Oregon, Chair
- Joe Barton, Texas, Vice Chair
- Fred Upton, Michigan
- John Shimkus, Illinois
- Michael C. Burgess, Texas
- Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
- Steve Scalise, Louisiana
- Bob Latta, Ohio
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington
- Gregg Harper, Mississippi
- Leonard Lance, New Jersey
- Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
- Pete Olson, Texas
- David McKinley, West Virginia
- Adam Kinzinger, Illinois
- Morgan Griffith, Virginia
- Gus Bilirakis, Florida
- Bill Johnson, Ohio
- Billy Long, Missouri
- Larry Bucshon, Indiana
- Bill Flores, Texas
- Susan Brooks, Indiana
- Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma
- Richard Hudson, North Carolina
- Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
- Tim Walberg, Michigan
- Mimi Walters, California
- Ryan Costello, Pennsylvania
- Buddy Carter, Georgia
- Chris Collins, New York (removed August 8, 2018)
| valign="top" |
- Frank Pallone, New Jersey, Ranking Member
- Bobby Rush, Illinois
- Anna Eshoo, California
- Eliot Engel, New York
- Gene Green, Texas
- Diana DeGette, Colorado
- Mike Doyle, Pennsylvania
- Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
- G. K. Butterfield, North Carolina
- Doris Matsui, California
- Kathy Castor, Florida, Vice Ranking Member
- John Sarbanes, Maryland
- Jerry McNerney, California
- Peter Welch, Vermont
- Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico
- Paul Tonko, New York
- Yvette Clarke, New York
- Dave Loebsack, Iowa
- Kurt Schrader, Oregon
- Joe Kennedy III, Massachusetts
- Tony Cárdenas, California
- Raul Ruiz, California
- Scott Peters, California
- Debbie Dingell, Michigan
|}
Sources: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (R) and (D).
114th Congress
{|class="wikitable"
!Majority
!Minority
|-
| valign="top" |
- Fred Upton, Michigan, Chair
- Joe Barton, Texas
- Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee, Vice Chair
- James Comer, Kentucky
- John Shimkus, Illinois
- Joseph Pitts, Pennsylvania
- Greg Walden, Oregon
- Tim Murphy, Pennsylvania
- Michael C. Burgess, Texas
- Steve Scalise, Louisiana
- Bob Latta, Ohio
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington
- Gregg Harper, Mississippi
- Leonard Lance, New Jersey
- Brett Guthrie, Kentucky
- Pete Olson, Texas
- David McKinley, West Virginia
- Mike Pompeo, Kansas
- Adam Kinzinger, Illinois
- Morgan Griffith, Virginia
- Gus Bilirakis, Florida
- Bill Johnson, Ohio
- Renee Ellmers, North Carolina
- Larry Bucshon, Indiana
- Bill Flores, Texas
- Susan Brooks, Indiana
- Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma
- Richard Hudson, North Carolina
- Chris Collins, New York
- Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
| valign="top" |
- Frank Pallone, New Jersey, Ranking Member
- Bobby Rush, Illinois
- Anna Eshoo, California
- Eliot Engel, New York
- Gene Green, Texas
- Diana DeGette, Colorado
- Lois Capps, California
- Mike Doyle, Pennsylvania
- Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
- G. K. Butterfield, North Carolina
- Doris Matsui, California
- Kathy Castor, Florida
- John Sarbanes, Maryland
- Jerry McNerney, California
- Peter Welch, Vermont
- Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico
- Paul Tonko, New York
- Yvette Clarke, New York
- Dave Loebsack, Iowa
- Kurt Schrader, Oregon
- Joe Kennedy III, Massachusetts
- Tony Cárdenas, California
|}
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)
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chairs
!Name
!Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|Federalist
|Massachusetts
|1795
|1796
|-
|
|Democratic-Republican
|Pennsylvania
|1796
|1797
|-
|
|Democratic-Republican
|New York
|1797
|1798
|-
|
|Democratic-Republican
|Maryland
|1798
|1803
|-
|
|Democratic-Republican
|New York
|1803
|1805
|-
|
|Democratic-Republican
|Massachusetts
|1805
|1806
|-
|
|Democratic-Republican
|New York
|1806
|1807
|-
|
|Democratic-Republican
|Virginia
|1807
|1819
|}
</div>
Committee on Commerce (1819–1891)
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chairs
!Name
!Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|Democratic-Republican
|Virginia
|1819
|1827
|-
|
|Democratic
|New York
|1827
|1833
|-
|
|Democratic
|Pennsylvania
|1833
|1837
|-
|
|Democratic
|Maine
|1837
|1838
|-
|
|Democratic
|New Hampshire
|1838
|1839
|-
|
|Whig
|New York
|1839
|1841
|-
|
|Whig
|Maryland
|1841
|1843
|-
|
|Democratic
|South Carolina
|1843
|1845
|-
|
|Democratic
|Michigan
|1845
|1847
|-
|
|Whig
|New York
|1847
|1849
|-
|
|Democratic
|Maryland
|1849
|1851
|-
|
|Democratic
|New York
|1851
|1853
|-
|
|Democratic
|Maine
|1853
|1855
|-
|
|Republican
|Illinois
|1855
|1857
|-
|
|Democratic
|New York
|1857
|1859
|-
|
|Republican
|Illinois
|1859
|1868
|-
|
|Republican
|Massachusetts
|1868
|1869
|-
|
|Republican
|Rhode Island
|1869
|1871
|-
|
|Republican
|Ohio
|1871
|1873
|-
|
|Republican
|New York
|1873
|1875
|-
|
|Democratic
|West Virginia
|1875
|1877
|-
|
|Democratic
|New York
|colspan=2 align=center |1877
|-
|
|Democratic
|Texas
|1877
|1881
|-
|
|Republican
|California
|1881
|1883
|-
|
|Democratic
|Texas
|1883
|1887
|-
|
|Democratic
|Missouri
|1887
|1889
|-
|
|Republican
|New York
|1889
|1891
|}
</div>
Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (1891–1981)
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chairs
!Name
!Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|Democratic
|Texas
|1891
|1892
|-
|
|Democratic
|Virginia
|1892
|1895
|-
|
|Republican
|Iowa
|1895
|1909
|-
|
|Republican
|Illinois
|1909
|1911
|-
|
|Democratic
|Georgia
|1911
|1917
|-
|
|Democratic
|Tennessee
|1917
|1919
|-
|
|Republican
|Wisconsin
|1919
|1921
|-
|
|Republican
|Massachusetts
|1921
|1925
|-
|
|Republican
|New York
|1925
|1931
|-
|
|Democratic
|Texas
|1931
|1937
|-
|
|Democratic
|California
|1937
|1947
|-
|
|Republican
|New Jersey
|1947
|1949
|-
|
|Democratic
|Ohio
|1949
|1953
|-
|
|Republican
|New Jersey
|1953
|1955
|-
|
|Democratic
|Tennessee
|1955
|1956
|-
|
|Democratic
|Arkansas
|1957
|1966
|-
|
|Democratic
|West Virginia
|1966
|1981
|}
</div>
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Ranking members
!Name
!Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|Democratic
|California
|1947
|1949
|-
|
|Republican
|New Jersey
|1949
|1953
|-
|
|Democratic
|Ohio
|1953
|1955
|-
|
|Republican
|New Jersey
|1955
|1959
|-
|
|Republican
|Michigan
|1959
|1964
|-
|
|Republican
|Illinois
|1964
|1973
|-
|
|Republican
|Ohio
|1973
|1981
|}
</div>
Committee on Energy and Commerce (1981–present)
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chairs
!Name
!Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|
|Democratic
|Michigan
|1981
|1995
|-
|
|Republican
|Virginia
|1995
|2001
|-
|
|Republican
|Louisiana
|2001
|2004
|-
|
|Republican
|Texas
|2004
|2007
|-
|
|Democratic
|Michigan
|2007
|2009
|-
|
|Democratic
|California
|2009
|2011
|-
|
|Republican
|Michigan
|2011
|2017
|-
|
|Republican
|Oregon
|2017
|2019
|-
|
|Democratic
|New Jersey
|2019
|2023
|-
|
|Republican
|Washington
|2023
|2025
|-
|
|Republican
|Kentucky
|2025
|present
|}
</div>
<div style=display:inline-grid>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Ranking members
!Name
!Party
!State
!Start
!End
|-
|-
|
|Republican
|California
|1981
|1986
|-
|
|Republican
|New York
|1986
|1993
|-
|
|Republican
|California
|1993
|1995
|-
|
|Democratic
|Michigan
|1995
|2007
|-
|
|Republican
|Texas
|2007
|2011
|-
|
|Democratic
|California
|2011
|2015
|-
|
|Democratic
|New Jersey
|2015
|2019
|-
|
|Republican
|Oregon
|2019
|2021
|-
|
|Republican
|Washington
|2021
|2023
|-
|
|Democratic
|New Jersey
|2023
|present
|}
</div>
See also
- List of United States House of Representatives committees
References
External links
- (Archive)
- House Energy and Commerce Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.
- House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearings and Meetings Video. Congress.gov