Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Standing committee
History
Formed February 4, 1977
Succeeded Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds Committee on Public Works
Leadership
Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R ) Since January 3, 2025Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D ) Since January 3, 2025Structure
Seats 19 members
Political parties Majority (10) Republican (10) Minority (9) Democratic (8) Independent (1)Jurisdiction
Policy areas Air pollution , Biodiversity , Bridges and dams , Environmental policy , Environmental management , Environmental science , Federal buildings , Fisheries and wildlife , Flood control , Highways and roads , Infrastructure generally, Light pollution , Marine debris , Noise pollution , Nuclear safety , Recycling , Soil contamination , Waste management , Water pollution , Water resources Oversight authority Appalachian Regional Commission , Council on Environmental Quality , Delta Regional Authority , Economic Development Administration , Federal Highway Administration , General Services Administration , Mississippi River Commission , Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Tennessee Valley Authority , U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , United States Environmental Protection Agency , U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Subcommittees
Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight Transportation and Infrastructure
Meeting place
304 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C.
Website
Rules
The United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is responsible for legislation and oversight of the natural and built environment and for studying matters concerning environmental protection and resource conservation and utilitization .
Jurisdiction In accordance of Rule XXV of the United States Senate, all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects is referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works:
Air pollution ;Construction and maintenance of highways ; Environmental aspects of Outer Continental Shelf lands; Environmental effects of toxic substances, other than pesticides ;Environmental policy ;Environmental research and development ;Fisheries and wildlife ;Flood control and improvements of rivers and harbors , including environmental aspects of deepwater ports ;Noise pollution ;Nonmilitary environmental regulation and control of nuclear energy ;Ocean dumping ;Public buildings and improved grounds of the United States generally, including federal buildings in the District of Columbia ;Public works , bridges , and dams ;Regional economic development ;Solid waste disposal and recycling ;Water pollution ; and,Water resources .The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is also charged to "study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to environmental protection and resource utilization and conservation , and report thereon from time to time."
Members, 119th Congress Majority Minority Shelley Moore Capito , West Virginia, Chair Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Cynthia Lummis , Wyoming John Curtis , Utah Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Dan Sullivan , Alaska Pete Ricketts , Nebraska Roger Wicker , Mississippi John Boozman , Arkansas Jon Husted , Ohio (from January 24, 2025)Sheldon Whitehouse , Rhode Island, Ranking Member Bernie Sanders , Vermont Jeff Merkley , Oregon Ed Markey , Massachusetts Mark Kelly , Arizona Alex Padilla , California Adam Schiff , California Lisa Blunt Rochester , Delaware Angela Alsobrooks , Maryland
Subcommittees Chairs The committee has gone through several iterations starting in 1838. A list of these chairs is below.
Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings, 1819–1821 Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings, 1838–1857 Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, 1857–1883 Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, 1883–1947 Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Works, 1947–1977 Chairs of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 1977–present Ranking Members A list of ranking members is below.
Historical committee rosters 118th Congress Majority Minority Tom Carper , Delaware, Chair Ben Cardin , Maryland Bernie Sanders , Vermont Sheldon Whitehouse , Rhode Island Jeff Merkley , Oregon Ed Markey , Massachusetts Debbie Stabenow , Michigan Mark Kelly , Arizona Alex Padilla , California John Fetterman , PennsylvaniaShelley Moore Capito , West Virginia, Ranking Member Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Cynthia Lummis , Wyoming Markwayne Mullin , Oklahoma Pete Ricketts , Nebraska John Boozman , Arkansas Roger Wicker , Mississippi Dan Sullivan , Alaska Lindsey Graham , South Carolina
Subcommittee
117th Congress Majority Minority Tom Carper , Delaware, Chair Ben Cardin , Maryland Bernie Sanders , Vermont Sheldon Whitehouse , Rhode Island Jeff Merkley , Oregon Ed Markey , Massachusetts Tammy Duckworth , Illinois Debbie Stabenow , Michigan Mark Kelly , Arizona Alex Padilla , CaliforniaShelley Moore Capito , West Virginia, Ranking Member Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Cynthia Lummis , Wyoming Richard Shelby , Alabama John Boozman , Arkansas Roger Wicker , Mississippi Dan Sullivan , Alaska Joni Ernst , Iowa Lindsey Graham , South Carolina
Subcommittees
116th Congress Majority Minority John Barrasso , Wyoming, Chair Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma Shelley Moore Capito , West Virginia John Boozman , Arkansas Roger Wicker , Mississippi Mike Rounds , South Dakota Joni Ernst , Iowa Richard Shelby , Alabama Dan Sullivan , Alaska Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Mike Braun , IndianaTom Carper , Delaware, Ranking Member Ben Cardin , Maryland Bernie Sanders , Vermont Sheldon Whitehouse , Rhode Island Jeff Merkley , Oregon Kirsten Gillibrand , New York Cory Booker , New Jersey Ed Markey , Massachusetts Tammy Duckworth , Illinois Chris Van Hollen , Maryland
Subcommittees
115th Congress Majority Minority John Barrasso , Wyoming, Chair Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma Shelley Moore Capito , West Virginia John Boozman , Arkansas Roger Wicker , Mississippi Deb Fischer , Nebraska Jerry Moran , Kansas Mike Rounds , South Dakota Joni Ernst , Iowa Richard Shelby , Alabama Dan Sullivan , AlaskaTom Carper , Delaware, Ranking Member Ben Cardin , Maryland Bernie Sanders , Vermont Sheldon Whitehouse , Rhode Island Jeff Merkley , Oregon Kirsten Gillibrand , New York Cory Booker , New Jersey Ed Markey , Massachusetts Tammy Duckworth , Illinois Chris Van Hollen , Maryland
114th Congress Majority Minority Jim Inhofe , Oklahoma, Chair David Vitter , Louisiana John Barrasso , Wyoming Shelley Moore Capito , West Virginia Mike Crapo , Idaho John Boozman , Arkansas Jeff Sessions , Alabama Roger Wicker , Mississippi Deb Fischer , Nebraska Mike Rounds , South Dakota Dan Sullivan , AlaskaBarbara Boxer , California, Ranking Member Tom Carper , Delaware Ben Cardin , Maryland Bernie Sanders , Vermont Sheldon Whitehouse , Rhode Island Jeff Merkley , Oregon Kirsten Gillibrand , New York Cory Booker , New Jersey Ed Markey , Massachusetts
Source: 2013 Congressional Record ,
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