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

Health:

The Health Subcommittee has key jurisdiction as the federal government continues working to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, 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.

Consumer Protection and Commerce:

The Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee has direct jurisdiction over the Federal Trade Commission, which is responsible for regulating commercial practices and large mergers that require antitrust scrutiny. 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. Additional information about the Subcommittee can be found here.

Oversight and Investigations:

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee is tasked with conducting oversight of all agencies, departments, and programs that the full Committee oversees. When warranted, the Subcommittee spearheads investigations and publishes reports on its findings.

The House Committee on Natural Resources advances the interests of the indigenous peoples and residents of the territories of the United States, and considers legislation and oversees federal conservation and species protection programs under the leadership of Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva.

The Committee’s responsibilities include the following:

• Fostering political and economic development of the insular areas.
• Providing oversight of the Puerto Rico, Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, (PROMESA) and the Oversight Board.
• Seeking to improve the economies, local financial management and a process for the orderly political development of all the territories.
• Continuing efforts to advance economic self-sufficiency of the Freely Associated States.

National Parks, Forests, And Public Lands:

Formerly chaired by Congresswoman Deb Haaland, who has since taken the role of Interior Secretary, the Subcommittee has oversight of the National Park Service, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, all of which employ a total of nearly 60,000 workers nationwide to fulfill their respective missions to protect, preserve, and maintain federally protected lands. It also has jurisdiction over the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which Trahan has been a strong supporter of, and the National Wild Scenic Rivers Program, which will be key for the continued preservation of the Nashua Wild and Scenic River and the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic River. Finally, Trahan will also be able to use her seat on the Subcommittee to continue her support for the Essex National Heritage Area, as well as other National Heritage Areas across the Commonwealth.

 The Subcommittee's responsibilities include the following:

Congressional Caucus Membership

New Democrats

Progressive Caucus

Portuguese-American Caucus

Congressional Hispanic Caucus

LGBT Equality Caucus

Black Maternal Health Caucus

Diversifying Tech Caucus

Air Force Caucus

Small Brewers Caucus

Army Caucus

Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus

Freshman Working Group on Addiction

Autism Research and Education Caucus

Baby Caucus

Blue Collar Caucus

Building Trades

Cambodia Caucus

Caucus on the Deadliest Cancers

College Affordability Caucus 

Community Colleges

Congressional Peace Corps Caucus

Fusion Energy Caucus 

Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus

Lung Cancer Caucus

Multiple Sclerosis Caucus

National Guard and Reserve Caucus

Pandemic Preparedness Caucus

Pro-choice Caucus

Save Minor League Baseball Task Force

Servicewomen and Women Veterans Caucus

Skin Cancer Caucus

Women in STEM Caucus

Women Veteran Task Force