Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today announced the Committee’s six subcommittees for the 116th Congress. The jurisdictions of the subcommittees are unchanged from the previous Congress, but two of the subcommittees have new names - the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce (previously the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection), and the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change (previously the Subcommittee on Environment).
“The Energy and Commerce Committee has a long and proud tradition of conducting the majority of its work in its subcommittees," Pallone said. “I’m confident these six subcommittees will allow us to focus on our priorities of strengthening the economy, reducing costs for consumers, combating climate change and conducting vigorous oversight."
Following, is the jurisdictional breakdown for the six subcommittees:
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Jurisdiction: Electronic communications, both Interstate and foreign, including voice, video, audio and data, whether transmitted by wire or wirelessly, and whether transmitted by telecommunications, commercial or private mobile service, broadcast, cable, satellite, microwave, or other mode; technology generally; emergency and public safety communications; cybersecurity, privacy, and data security; the Federal Communications Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Emergency Communications Division in the Department of Homeland Security; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.
Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce
Jurisdiction: Interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee; regulation of commercial practices (the Federal Trade Commission), including sports-related matters; consumer affairs and consumer protection, including privacy matters; data security; consumer product safety (the Consumer Product Safety Commission); product liability; motor vehicle safety; and, regulation of travel, tourism, and time.
Subcommittee on Energy
Jurisdiction: National energy policy; fossil energy; renewable energy; nuclear energy; nuclear facilities; the Department of Energy; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; synthetic and alternative fuels; energy conservation; energy information; utility issues; interstate energy compacts; energy generation, marketing, reliability, transmission, siting, exploration, production, efficiency, cybersecurity, and ratemaking for all generated power; pipelines; all laws, programs, and government activities affecting energy matters, including all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.
Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change
Jurisdiction: The Clean Air Act and air emissions; all matters related to soil, air, and water contamination, including Superfund and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the regulation of solid, hazardous, and nuclear wastes, including mining, nuclear, oil, gas, and coal combustion waste; emergency environmental response; industrial plant security, including cybersecurity; the regulation of drinking water (Safe Drinking Water Act), including underground injection of fluids (e.g., deep well injection or hydrofracking); toxic substances (Toxic Substances Control Act); noise; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.
Subcommittee on Health
Jurisdiction: Public health and quarantine; hospital construction; mental health; biomedical research and development; health information technology, privacy, and cybersecurity; public health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid) and private health insurance; medical malpractice and medical malpractice insurance; the regulation of food, drugs, devices, cosmetics and tobacco (the Food and Drug Administration); drug abuse; the Department of Health and Human Services; the National Institutes of Health; the Centers for Disease Control; Indian Health Service; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Jurisdiction: Responsibility for oversight of agencies, departments, and programs related to the jurisdiction of the full committee, and for conducting investigations.
