Senate Committees

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
The Committee of Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of all matters relating to the nation's agriculture industry, farming programs, forestry and logging, and legislation relating to nutrition and health. The Committee has oversight responsibility for the USDA's research program, including the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

Committee on Appropriations
The Senate Appropriations Committee role is defined by the U.S. Constitution, which requires "appropriations made by law" prior to the expenditure of any money from the Federal treasury. The Committee writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. Appropriations are limited to the levels set by a Budget Resolution, drafted by the Senate Budget Committee.

Twelve subcommittees are tasked with drafting legislation to allocate funds to government agencies within their jurisdictions. These subcommittees are responsible for reviewing the President's budget request, hearing testimony from government officials, and drafting the spending plans for the coming fiscal year. Their work is passed on to the full Senate Appropriations Committee, which may review and modify the bills and forward them to the full Senate for consideration.

The Committee is also responsible for supplemental spending bills, which are sometimes needed in the middle of a fiscal year to compensate for emergency expenses.

Here is a list of appropriations subcommittees that allocate science funding:

1) Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies

The Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies has jurisdiction over the National Science Foundation.

2) Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

The Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies has jurisdiction over the National Institute of Health.

3) Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies

The Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies has jurisdiction over the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program.

4) Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development

The Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development has jurisdiction over the Department of Energy.

Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is composed of 7 Subcommittees, which together oversee for the vast range of issues under its jurisdiction. These issues range from communications, highways, aviation, rail, shipping, transportation security, merchant marine, the Coast Guard, oceans, fisheries, climate change, disasters, science, space, interstate commerce, tourism, consumer issues, economic development, technology, competitiveness, product safety, and insurance.

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources have considered, reported, and overseen far-reaching legislative activity in the following major areas: energy resources and development, including regulation, conservation, strategic petroleum reserves and appliance standards; nuclear energy; Indian affairs; public lands and their renewable resources; surface mining, Federal coal, oil, and gas, other mineral leasing; territories and insular possessions; and water resources.

Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
The Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to which committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects (partial list): 1) Measures relating to education, labor, health, and public welfare 2) Child labor 3) Equal employment opportunity 4) Regulation of foreign laborers 5) Student loans.

Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to which committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects (partial list): 1) Compensation of veterans 2) Life insurance issued by the Government on account of service in the Armed Forces 3) Readjustment of servicemen to civil life 4) Veterans' hospitals, medical care and treatment of veterans 5) Vocational rehabilitation and education of veterans.

For questions or comments, please contact us.