Committees and Caucuses

How Congressional Committees Work

Members of Congress serve on a number of committees. Each committee specializes in specific issues and reviews legislation pertaining to those issues. After bills are introduced, they are referred to the committees having jurisdiction over the issues the legislation addresses. Most House committees are further divided into subcommittees. Legislation is first reviewed by a subcommittee, where testimony is presented and the bills are amended. Subcommittee members then vote on the amended bill. If it passes in subcommittee, the legislation is then eligible for consideration by the full committee. If the full committee passes the legislation, it is then eligible for consideration by the full House of Representatives. Only a fraction of bills that get introduced each year are considered by a subcommittee and a smaller percentage of those bills are considered by the full House of Representatives.

Financial Services Committee

Congressman Capuano has served on the Financial Services Committee, and its predecessor, the House Banking Committee, since he was first elected to Congress. This Committee has jurisdiction over a number of issues. Some of these include international finance, securities and exchanges, monetary policy, insurance, banking and housing. The Committee also oversees financial services regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve. Mike is a member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises as well as the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Mike is also a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He received this assignment in June of 2002. Before being named to this Committee, Mike served on the Committee on the Budget and the Committee on Science. The Transportation Committee has jurisdiction over issues related to aviation, maritime transportation, railroads, highways, transit and pipelines and water resources. Mike is a member of the Subcommittee on Aviation and the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Caucuses

Congressional Caucuses are formed by Members to provide a forum for issues or legislative agendas. A number of caucuses exist in the House and their primary function is to draw attention to issues of importance to their membership. Since he took office, Mike has founded five caucuses: The Congressional Caucus on Community Health Centers, the Congressional Caucus on Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities, the Congressional Caucus on Korea, the Congressional Caucus on Sudan, and the Congressional Former Mayors Caucus. A complete list of Caucus membership is provided below:

• Congressional Former Mayor's Caucus – co-founder and co-chair
• Congressional Caucus on Sudan – co founder and co-chair
• Congressional Caucus on Community Health Centers – co-founder and co-chair
• Congressional Caucus on Empowerment Zones and Empowered Communities – co-chair
• Congressional Caucus on Korea – co-founder and co-chair
   
• Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus
• Alzheimer's Disease Congressional Task Force
• Biomedical Research Caucus
• Bipartisan Congressional Refugee Caucus
• Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus
• Bipartisan Pro-Choice Caucus
• Cancer Caucus
• Coalition on Autism Research and Education
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional Biotechnology Caucus
• Congressional Boating Caucus
• Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
• Congressional Brazil Caucus
• Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
• Congressional Caucus on Central America
• Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues
• Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Affairs
• Congressional Caucus on the Netherlands
• Congressional Climate Caucus
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption
• Congressional Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Caucus
• Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus
• Congressional Diabetes Caucus
• Congressional Fire Services Caucus
• Congressional Human Rights Caucus
• Congressional Humanities Caucus
• Congressional Internet Caucus
• Congressional Kidney Caucus
• Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus
• Congressional Missing and Exploited ChildrenŐs Caucus
• Congressional Mental Health Caucus
• Congressional Port Security Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Congressional Taskforce on International HIV/AIDS
• Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
• Congressional TRIO Caucus
• Congressional Vision Caucus
• Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus
• Historic Preservation Caucus
• House Hunger Caucus
• House Nursing Caucus
• House Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Caucus
• International Workers Rights Caucus
• National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus
• National Service Congressional Caucus
• Navy-Marine Corps Caucus
• Oil and National Security Caucus
• Open Space Caucus
• Patriot Act Reform Caucus
• Public Broadcasting Caucus
• Qatari-American Economic Strategic Defense, Culture, and Educational Partnership Caucus
• Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
• Research and Development Caucus