Key Senate & House Committees

In 1963, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee was given the responsibility for creating new laws to achieve air and water pollution control. The passage of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 brought the committee recognition as the Senate's primary forum for protection of the environment. The Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water Subcommittee has jurisdiction over a number of environmental issues including the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is one the largest and most influential committees in Congress and has jurisdiction over aviation, highways, mass transit, railroads, ports and waterways, and pipelines. The Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee has jurisdiction over water conservation, pollution control, infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup. Among other laws, this Subcommittee is responsible for reauthorizing the Clean Water Act.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest legislative standing committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials has jurisdiction in the House over public health issues, including the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Click below to go to the Committees’ websites for information on Committee and Subcommittee membership, hearing announcements, testimony, and background on clean water and drinking water legislation:

U.S. SENATE

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (Exit WIN site)

• Chair: Barbara Boxer (D – California)
• Ranking Minority Member: Sen. James Inhofe (R – Oklahoma)

Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water (Exit WIN site)

• Chair: Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R – Rhode Island)
• Ranking Member: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D – New York)

 
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (Exit WIN site)

• Chair: Rep. James L. Oberstar (D – Minnesota)
• Ranking Minority Member: John L. Mica (R – Florida)

Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment (Exit WIN site)

• Chair: Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D – Maryland)
• Ranking Minority Member: Rep. Steve LaTourette (R – Ohio)

House Energy and Commerce Committee (Exit WIN site)

• Chair: Rep. John D. Dingell (D – Michigan)
• Ranking Minority Member: Rep. Joe Barton (R – Texas)

Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials (Exit WIN site)

• Chair: Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D – Maryland)
• Ranking Minority Member: Rep. John Shimkus (R – Illinois)