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SENATE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation reviews all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects:
1) Coast Guard;
2) Coastal zone management;
3) Communications;
4) Highway safety;
5) Inland waterways, except construction;
6) Interstate commerce;
7) Marine and ocean navigation, safety, and transportation, including navigational aspects of deepwater ports;
8) Marine fisheries;
9) Merchant marine and navigation;
10) Nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences;
11) Oceans, weather, and atmospheric activities;
12) Panama Canal and interoceanic canals generally;
13) Regulation of consumer products and services, including testing related to toxic substances, other than pesticides, and except for credit, financial services, and housing;
14) Regulation of interstate common carriers, including railroads, buses, trucks, vessels, pipelines, and civil aviation;
15) Science, engineering, and technology research and development and policy;
16) Sports;
17) Standards and measurement;
18) Transportation; and
19) Transportation and commerce aspects of Outer Continental Shelf lands.
The committee also studies and reviews, on a comprehensive basis, all matters relating to science and technology, oceans policy, transportation, communications, and consumer affairs.
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
The Senate Appropriations Committee is the largest committee in the U.S. Senate. Its role is defined by the U.S. Constitution, which requires
"appropriations made by law" prior to the expenditure of any money from the Federal treasury. The
Committee writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to
the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. In 1997 the
Committee allocated more than $500 billion dollars to fund nearly every aspect of government, from
road building to police protection to national defense. Appropriations are limited to the levels set by
a Budget Resolution, drafted by the Senate Budget Committee.
Thirteen subcommittees are tasked with drafting legislation to allocate funds to government agencies
within their jurisdictions. These subcommittees are responsible for reviewing the President's budget
request, hearing testimony from government officials, and drafting the spending plans for the coming
fiscal year. Their work is passed on to the full Senate Appropriations Committee, which may review
and modify the bills and forward them to the full Senate for consideration.
The Committee is also responsible for supplemental spending bills, which are sometimes needed in
the middle of a fiscal year to compensate for emergency expenses.
COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ADMINISTRATION
The Committee on Rules and Administration reviews all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects:
1) Administration of the Senate Office Buildings and the Senate wing of the Capitol, including the
assignment of office space;
2) Congressional organization relative to rules and procedures, and Senate rules and regulations,
including floor and gallery rules;
3) Corrupt practices;
4) Credentials and qualifications of Members of the Senate, contested elections, and acceptance of
incompatible offices;
5) Federal elections generally, including the election of the President, Vice President, and Members
of the Congress;
6) Government Printing Office, and the printing and correction of the Congressional Record, as well
as those matters provided for under rule XI;
7) Meetings of the Congress and attendance of Members;
8) Payment of money out of the contingent fund of the Senate or creating a charge upon the same
(except that any resolution relating to substantive matter within the jurisdiction of any other standing
committee of the Senate shall be first referred to such committee);
9) Presidential succession;
10) Purchase of books and manuscripts and erection of monuments to the memory of individuals;
11) Senate Library and statuary, art, and pictures in the Capitol and Senate Office Buildings;
12) Services to the Senate, including the Senate restaurant; and
13) United States Capitol and congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress, the
Smithsonian Institution (and the incorporation of similar institutions), and the Botanic Gardens.
In addition, the committee also makes a continuing study of the organization and operation of the Congress of the United States and recommends improvements in the organization and operation with a view toward strengthening the Congress, simplifying its operations, improving its relationships with other branches
of the United States Government, and enabling it better to meet its responsibilities under the
Constitution of the United States.
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs is the authorizing committee for the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). The Committee recommends legislation expanding, curtailing, and fine-tuning existing laws relating to veterans' benefits. The Committee also has oversight responsibility of the DVA.
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