About the Senate Committee System

Due to the high volume and complexity of its work, Congress divides its tasks among various committees and subcommittees. The House and Senate each have their own committee system, which are similar. Within chamber guidelines, however, each committee adopts its own rules; thus, there is considerable variation among panels. 

Committees on which Senator Snowe Sits:

>  Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship 

The Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship considers proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the Small Business Administration. Senator Snowe is ranking member of this Committee.

"The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship is directed under the standing rules of the United States Senate to be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the Small Business Administration (SBA)."

>  Select Committee on Intelligence

"Created pursuant to S.Res. 400, 94th Congress: to oversee and make continuing studies of the intelligence activities and programs of the United States Government, and to submit to the Senate appropriate proposals for legislation and report to the Senate concerning such intelligence activities and programs. In carrying out this purpose, the Select Committee on Intelligence shall make every effort to assure that the appropriate departments and agencies of the United States provide informed and timely intelligence necessary for the executive and legislative branches to make sound decisions affecting the security and vital interests of the Nation. It is further the purpose of this resolution to provide vigilant legislative oversight over the intelligence activities of the United States to assure that such activities are in conformity with the Constitution and laws of the United States."

>  Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

The Commerce, Science, and Technology Committee has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues including science and technology, aviation, oceans & fisheries. Senator Snowe is ranking member of the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and the Coast Guard, and is a member of the Subcommittees on Aviation; Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine; and Communications and Technology.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to which committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects:

• Coast Guard.
• Coastal zone management.
• Communications.
• Highway safety.
• Inland waterways, except construction.
• Interstate commerce.
• Marine and ocean navigation, safety, and transportation, including navigational aspects of deepwater ports.
• Marine fisheries.
• Merchant marine and navigation.
• Nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences.
• Oceans, weather, and atmospheric activities.
• Panama Canal and interoceanic canals generally, except as provided in subparagraph (c).
• Regulation of consumer products and services, including testing related to toxic substances, other than pesticides, and except for credit, financial services, and housing.
• Regulation of interstate common carriers, including railroads, buses, trucks, vessels, pipelines, and civil aviation.
• Science, engineering, and technology research and development and policy.
• Sports.
• Standards and measurement.
• Transportation.
• Transportation and commerce aspects of Outer Continental Shelf lands.

Such committee shall also study and review, on a comprehensive basis, all matters relating to science and technology, oceans policy, transportation, communications, and consumer affairs, and report thereon from time to time.

>  Committee on Finance

The Committee on Finance deals with issues relating to taxes, health care, trade and Social Security. Senator Snowe is a member of the Subcommittees on Health Care; International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness; and, Taxation, IRS Oversight, and Long-Term Growth.

"The Committee concerns itself with matters relating to: taxation and other revenue measures generally, and those relating to the insular possessions; bonded debt of the United States; customs, collection districts, and ports of entry and delivery; reciprocal trade agreements; tariff and import quotas, and related matters thereto; the transportation of dutiable goods; deposit of public moneys; general revenue sharing; health programs under the Social Security Act, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other health and human services programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund; and national social security."