Congressional Committees with R&D, Education Jurisdictions

Members of Congress have tremendous power over the conduct and support of the nation’s research enterprise, through appropriating the funds, authorizing programs, and carrying out oversight activities. Yet the policymakers on Capitol Hill often get little input from their constituents about science policy or budgets. Those Members with probably the biggest impact on science programs are the appropriators. They are responsible for writing the bills that provide funding for federal departments and agencies. There are 12 appropriations subcommittees in each chamber of Congress. Within the jurisdiction of these subcommittees, R&D agencies often have to compete for funding with other priorities.

Authorization bills provide funding guidelines for federal programs. In theory, authorizing legislation is supposed to provide guidance for appropriators. In reality, appropriators do not always heed the authorizers, and authorization bills are often not passed in a timely manner, if at all. However, authorization bills, even in draft form, still can have an influence on funding for a project or agency.

There are several major appropriations and authorization committees or subcommittees in each chamber that have jurisdiction over most federal programs tracked by FYI. To get information on committee chairs, rosters, hearing schedules and legislation, or to determine if your representative or senators sit on a certain committee, please see the (sub)committee web sites below. To find the name of your representative, see http://www.house.gov/ .

The latest information on all congressional committees can be found on the Library of Congress’s THOMAS web site at http://thomas.loc.gov/ by selecting “House of Representatives” or “Senate” in the left-hand menu, and then choosing “committees.” NOTE: Not all committee and subcommittee rosters and jurisdictions have been finalized for the 110th Congress.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3:

House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_def.shtml

House Armed Services Committee: http://armedservices.house.gov/

Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/defense/topics.cfm?code=def

Senate Armed Services Committee: http://armed-services.senate.gov/

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION:

House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_cjs.shtml

House Science and Technology Committee: http://science.house.gov/

Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/commjust/topics.cfm?code=commerce

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee: http://commerce.senate.gov/public/

NASA:

House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_cjs.shtml

House Science and Technology Committee: http://science.house.gov/

Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/commjust/topics.cfm?code=commerce

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee: http://commerce.senate.gov/public/

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY:
House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_ew.shtml

House Science and Technology Committee: http://science.house.gov/

Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/energy/topics.cfm?code=energy

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: http://energy.senate.gov/public/

FOR AUTHORIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION:

House Armed Services Committee: http://armedservices.house.gov/

Senate Armed Services Committee: http://armed-services.senate.gov/

NIST:

House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_cjs.shtml

House Science and Technology Committee: http://science.house.gov/

Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/commjust/topics.cfm?code=commerce

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee: http://commerce.senate.gov/public/

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

House Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_lhhse.shtml

House Education and Labor Committee: http://edworkforce.house.gov/

Senate Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/labor/topics.cfm?code=labor

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee: http://help.senate.gov/

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY R&D:

House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_dhs.shtml

House Homeland Security Committee: http://homeland.house.gov/

Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee: http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/homeland/topics.cfm?code=homeland

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: http://hsgac.senate.gov/