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 MajorityMinorityBrett 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, Vice Chair Dan Crenshaw, Texas John Joyce, Pennsylvania 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 DakotaFrank 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. SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberCommunications and TechnologyRichard Hudson (R-NC)Doris Matsui (D-CA)EnergyBob Latta (R-OH)Kathy Castor (D-FL)EnvironmentMorgan Griffith (R-VA)Paul Tonko (D-NY)HealthBuddy Carter (R-GA)Diana DeGette (D-CO)Commerce, Manufacturing, and TradeGus Bilirakis (R-FL)Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)Oversight and InvestigationsGary Palmer (R-AL)Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
Historical membership rosters 118th Congress MajorityMinorityCathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington, Chair Michael C. Burgess, Texas Bob Latta, Ohio Brett Guthrie, Kentucky Morgan Griffith, Virginia Gus Bilirakis, Florida Bill Johnson, Ohio (until January 21, 2024) Larry Bucshon, Indiana 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, 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, MichiganFrank Pallone, New Jersey, Ranking Member Anna Eshoo, California Diana DeGette, Colorado Jan Schakowsky, Illinois Doris Matsui, California Kathy Castor, Florida John Sarbanes, Maryland Paul Tonko, New York Yvette Clarke, New York Tony Cárdenas, California Raul Ruiz, California Scott Peters, California Debbie Dingell, Michigan Marc Veasey, Texas Annie Kuster, New Hampshire Robin Kelly, Illinois Nanette Barragán, California Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware Darren Soto, Florida Angie Craig, Minnesota Kim Schrier, Washington, Vice Ranking Member Lori Trahan, Massachusetts Lizzie Fletcher, Texas
Resolutions electing members: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (R), (D), (R)
Subcommittees SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberCommunications and TechnologyBob Latta (R-OH)Doris Matsui (D-CA)Energy, Climate and Grid SecurityJeff Duncan (R-SC)Diana DeGette (D-CO)Environment, Manufacturing and Critical MineralsBill Johnson (R-OH)Paul Tonko (D-NY)HealthBrett Guthrie (R-KY)Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)Innovation, Data and CommerceGus Bilirakis (R-FL)Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)Oversight and InvestigationsMorgan Griffith (R-VA)Kathy Castor (D-FL)
117th Congress MajorityMinorityFrank 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, TexasCathy 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 SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberCommunications and TechnologyMike Doyle (D-PA)Bob Latta (R-OH)Consumer Protection and CommerceJan Schakowsky (D-IL)Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)EnergyBobby Rush (D-IL)Fred Upton (R-MI)Environment and Climate ChangePaul Tonko (D-NY)David McKinley (R-WV)HealthAnna G. Eshoo (D-CA)Brett Guthrie (R-KY)Oversight and InvestigationsDiana DeGette (D-CO)Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
116th Congress MajorityMinorityFrank 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, ArizonaGreg 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 SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberCommunications and TechnologyMike Doyle (D-PA)Bob Latta (R-OH)Consumer Protection and CommerceJan Schakowsky (D-IL)Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)EnergyBobby Rush (D-IL)Fred Upton (R-MI)Environment and Climate ChangePaul Tonko (D-NY)David McKinley (R-WV)HealthAnna Eshoo (D-CA)Brett Guthrie (R-KY)Oversight and InvestigationsDiana DeGette (D-CO)Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
115th Congress MajorityMinorityGreg 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)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 MajorityMinorityFred Upton, Michigan, Chair Joe Barton, Texas Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee, Vice Chair James Comer, Kentucky John Shimkus, Illinois Joseph Pitts, Pennsylvania