Committees and Caucuses

Energy and Commerce Committee

The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest continuous standing committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. It was originally established in 1795 to regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
Today, the 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

The Committee also oversees several federal departments and agencies, including:

  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Food and Drug Administration
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Indian Health Service
  • Environmental Protection Agency  
  • Department of Energy
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission    
  • Federal Communications Commission
  • Federal Trade Commission
  • Consumer Product Safety Commission
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  • Department of Commerce
  • Department of Transportation
  • Department of Homeland Security
Congresswoman Trahan is a member of the subcommittees on Health,  Commerce, Manufacturing & Trade, and Oversight & Investigations.
 
Health:

The Health Subcommittee has key jurisdiction in the federal government including oversight of the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Subcommittee also has jurisdiction over legislation addressing public health, mental health, health insurance, hospitals, biomedical research, drug abuse and addiction treatment, and more.

Commerce, Manufacturing & Trade:
The Commerce, Manufacturing & Trade (previously known as the Innovation, Data, and Commerce) Subcommittee maintains jurisdiction over key issues relating to interstate and foreign commerce, along with all trade matters overseen by the committee. As a critic of large digital platforms, Trahan will have a seat on the panel with the power to demand accountability for the dangerous spread of disinformation that has proliferated online. Other online areas of jurisdiction include privacy, data security, and consumer protections. The Subcommittee also has oversight over sports-related matters, including professional baseball changes and decisions by the NCAA regarding student-athletes’ ability to profit off their own name, image, or likeness. Additionally, the Subcommittee regulates tourism, travel, and time, along with all Homeland Security related matters. Additional Information about the Subcommittee can be found here.

Oversight & Investigations:

The Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations is responsible for conducting oversight and investigations of any matter related to the jurisdiction of the full committee. The subcommittee's work plays a vital role in ensuring transparency, holding the government accountable, and maintaining checks and balances between the branches of government. Witnesses and key government officials are often called to testify in front of members of Congress. In the 119th Congress, Trahan has pushed for increased investigation into government activity due to the actions of the Trump Administration.


House Democratic Leadership Positions

  • Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee

  • Senior Whip 

  • New England Representative to the Regional Leadership Council

  • Member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee


Congressional Caucus Membership

  • Army Caucus

  • Freshman Working Group on Addiction

  • Autism Research and Education Caucus

  • Baby Caucus

  • Blue Collar Caucus

  • Building Trades

  • Cambodia Caucus - Co-Chair 

  • Caucus on the Deadliest Cancers

  • College Affordability Caucus 

  • Community Colleges

  • Congressional Peace Corps Caucus

  • Fusion Energy Caucus - Co-Chair 

  • Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus

  • Longterm Care Caucus

  • Lung Cancer Caucus

  • Multiple Sclerosis Caucus - Co-Chair 

  • National Guard and Reserve Caucus

  • Pandemic Preparedness Caucus

  • Quiet Skies Caucus

  • Romania Caucus

  • Save Minor League Baseball Task Force

  • Servicewomen and Women Veterans Caucus

  • Skin Cancer Caucus

  • Ukraine Caucus

  • Women in STEM Caucus

  • Women Veteran Task Force