United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce

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.

House Energy and Commerce Committee

Standing committee
Active United States House of Representatives 118th Congress
U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce official Seal
History
Formed	December 14, 1795
Leadership
Chair	Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) Since January 3, 2023
Ranking member	Frank Pallone (D) Since January 3, 2023
Structure
Seats	52
Political parties	Majority (29)   Republican (29) Minority (23)   Democratic (23)
Website
energycommerce.house.gov

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, 118th Congress

Majority

Minority

Cathy 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, Michigan

Frank 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: H.Res. 14 (Chair), H.Res. 15 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 56 (R), H.Res. 57 (D), H.Res. 1133 (R)

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, Chairman Henry Waxman combined the traditionally separate energy and environment subcommittees into a single subcommittee. New Chairman Fred Upton restored them as separate subcommittees at the start of the 112th Congress, and they have been retained to this day.

Subcommittee	Chair	Ranking Member
Communications and Technology	Bob Latta (R-OH)	Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Energy, Climate and Grid Security	Jeff Duncan (R-SC)	Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Minerals	Bill Johnson (R-OH)	Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Health	Brett Guthrie (R-KY)	Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)
Innovation, Data and Commerce	Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)	Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Oversight and Investigations	Morgan Griffith (R-VA)	Kathy Castor (D-FL)

Historical membership rosters

117th Congress

Majority

Minority

Frank 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, Texas

Cathy 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: H.Res. 9 (Chair), H.Res. 10 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 62 (D), H.Res. 63 (R)

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair	Ranking Member
Communications and Technology	Mike Doyle (D-PA)	Bob Latta (R-OH)
Consumer Protection and Commerce	Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)	Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Energy	Bobby Rush (D-IL)	Fred Upton (R-MI)
Environment and Climate Change	Paul Tonko (D-NY)	David McKinley (R-WV)
Health	Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)	Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
Oversight and Investigations	Diana DeGette (D-CO)	Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

116th Congress

Majority

Minority

Frank 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, Arizona

Greg 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: H.Res. 7 (Chair), H.Res. 8 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 42 (D), H.Res. 68 (R)

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair	Ranking Member
Communications and Technology	Mike Doyle (D-PA)	Bob Latta (R-OH)
Consumer Protection and Commerce	Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)	Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Energy	Bobby Rush (D-IL)	Fred Upton (R-MI)
Environment and Climate Change	Paul Tonko (D-NY)	David McKinley (R-WV)
Health	Anna Eshoo (D-CA)	Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
Oversight and Investigations	Diana DeGette (D-CO)	Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

115th Congress

Majority

Minority

Greg 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: H.Res. 6 (Chair), H.Res. 7 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 29 (R) and H.Res. 45 (D).

114th Congress

Majority

Minority

Fred Upton, Michigan, Chair Joe Barton, Texas Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee, Vice Chair James Comer, Kentucky John Shimkus, Illinois Joseph Pitts, Pennsylvania Greg Walden, Oregon Tim Murphy, Pennsylvania Michael C. Burgess, Texas 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 Mike Pompeo, Kansas Adam Kinzinger, Illinois Morgan Griffith, Virginia Gus Bilirakis, Florida Bill Johnson, Ohio Renee Ellmers, North Carolina Larry Bucshon, Indiana Bill Flores, Texas Susan Brooks, Indiana Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma Richard Hudson, North Carolina Chris Collins, New York Kevin Cramer, North Dakota

Frank Pallone, New Jersey, Ranking Member Bobby Rush, Illinois Anna Eshoo, California Eliot Engel, New York Gene Green, Texas Diana DeGette, Colorado Lois Capps, California 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 Dave Loebsack, Iowa Kurt Schrader, Oregon Joe Kennedy III, Massachusetts Tony Cárdenas, California

History

The committee was originally formed as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures on December 14, 1795. Prior to this, legislation was drafted in the Committee of the Whole or in special ad hoc committees, appointed for specific limited purposes. However the growing demands of the new nation required that Congress establish a permanent committee to manage its constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause to "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States."

From this time forward, as the nation grew and Congress dealt with new public policy concerns and created new committees, the Energy and Commerce Committee has maintained its central position as Congress's monitor of commercial progress—a focus reflected in its changing jurisdiction, both in name and practice.

In 1819, the committee's name was changed to the Committee on Commerce, reflecting the creation of a separate Manufacturers Committee and also the increasing scope of and complexity of American commercial activity, which was expanding the committee's jurisdiction from navigational aids and the nascent general health service to foreign trade and tariffs. Thomas J. Bliley, who chaired the committee from 1995 to 2000, chose to use this traditional name, which underscores the committee's role for Congress on this front.

In 1891, in emphasis of the committee's evolving activities, the name was again changed to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce—a title it maintained until 1981, when, under incoming Chairman John Dingell, the committee first assumed what is now its present name to emphasize its lead role in guiding the energy policy of the United States. Dingell regained chairmanship of the committee in 2007 after having served as ranking member since 1995. In late 2008, Henry Waxman initiated a successful challenge to unseat Dingell as chairman. His challenge was unusual as the party caucus traditionally elects chairmen based on committee seniority. Waxman formally became chairman at the start of the 111th Congress.

Previous chairs

Committee on Commerce and Manufactures

Chairman	Party	State	Years
Benjamin Goodhue	Federalist	Massachusetts	1795–1796
John Swanwick	Democratic-Republican	Pennsylvania	1796–1797
Edward Livingston	Democratic-Republican	New York	1797–1798
Samuel Smith	Democratic-Republican	Maryland	1798–1803
Samuel L. Mitchill	Democratic-Republican	New York	1803–1805
Jacob Crowninshield	Democratic-Republican	Massachusetts	1805–1806
Gurdon S. Mumford	Democratic-Republican	New York	1806–1807
Thomas Newton Jr.	Democratic-Republican	Virginia	1807–1819

Committee on Commerce

Chairman	Party	State	Years
Thomas Newton Jr.	Democratic-Republican	Virginia	1819–1827
Churchill C. Cambreleng	Democratic	New York	1827–1833
Joel B. Sutherland	Democratic	Pennsylvania	1833–1837
Francis O. J. Smith	Democratic	Maine	1837–1838
Samuel Cushman	Democratic	New Hampshire	1838–1839
Edward Curtis	Whig	New York	1839–1841
John P. Kennedy	Whig	Maryland	1841–1843
Isaac E. Holmes	Democratic	South Carolina	1843–1845
Robert McClelland	Democratic	Michigan	1845–1847
Washington Hunt	Whig	New York	1847–1849
Robert Milligan McLane	Democratic	Maryland	1849–1851
David L. Seymour	Democratic	New York	1851–1853
Thomas J. D. Fuller	Democratic	Maine	1853–1855
Elihu B. Washburne	Republican	Illinois	1855–1857
John Cochrane	Democratic	New York	1857–1859
Elihu B. Washburne	Republican	Illinois	1859–1868
Thomas D. Eliot	Republican	Massachusetts	1868–1869
Nathan F. Dixon II	Republican	Rhode Island	1869–1871
Samuel Shellabarger	Republican	Ohio	1871–1873
William A. Wheeler	Republican	New York	1873–1875
Frank Hereford	Democratic	West Virginia	1875–1877
Elijah Ward	Democratic	New York	1877
John H. Reagan	Democratic	Texas	1877–1881
Horace F. Page	Republican	California	1881–1883
John H. Reagan	Democratic	Texas	1883–1887
Martin L. Clardy	Democratic	Missouri	1887–1889
Charles S. Baker	Republican	New York	1889–1891

Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce

Chairman	Party	State	Years
Roger Q. Mills	Democratic	Texas	1891–1892
George D. Wise	Democratic	Virginia	1892–1895
William Peters Hepburn	Republican	Iowa	1895–1909
James Robert Mann	Republican	Illinois	1909–1911
William C. Adamson	Democratic	Georgia	1911–1917
Thetus W. Sims	Democratic	Tennessee	1917–1919
John J. Esch	Republican	Wisconsin	1919–1921
Samuel Winslow	Republican	Massachusetts	1921–1925
James S. Parker	Republican	New York	1925–1931
Sam Rayburn	Democratic	Texas	1931–1937
Clarence F. Lea	Democratic	California	1937–1947
Charles A. Wolverton	Republican	New Jersey	1947–1949
Robert Crosser	Democratic	Ohio	1949–1953
Charles A. Wolverton	Republican	New Jersey	1953–1955
Percy Priest	Democratic	Tennessee	1955–1956
Oren Harris	Democratic	Arkansas	1957–1966
Harley Orrin Staggers	Democratic	West Virginia	1966–1981

Committee on Energy and Commerce

Chairman	Party	State	Years
John Dingell	Democratic	Michigan	1981–1995
Thomas Bliley	Republican	Virginia	1995–2001
Billy Tauzin	Republican	Louisiana	2001–2004
Joe Barton	Republican	Texas	2004–2007
John Dingell	Democratic	Michigan	2007–2009
Henry Waxman	Democratic	California	2009–2011
Fred Upton	Republican	Michigan	2011–2017
Greg Walden	Republican	Oregon	2017–2019
Frank Pallone	Democratic	New Jersey	2019–2023
Cathy McMorris Rodgers	Republican	Washington	2023–

See also

• List of current United States House of Representatives committees

External links

• Official website (Archive)
• House Energy and Commerce Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.
• House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearings and Meetings Video. Congress.gov