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Committees & Subcommittees
Due to the high volume and complexity of its work, the Senate divides its tasks among 20 committees, 68 subcommittees, and 4 joint committees. Although the Senate committee system is similar to that of the House of Representatives, it has its own guidelines, within which each committee adopts its own rules. More »
Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
The committee has legislative oversight of the Department of Agriculture. It oversees all matters relating to the nation's agriculture industry, farming programs, renewable energy production, forestry and logging, and legislation relating to nutrition and health. Senator Nelson is chairman of the Commodities, Markets, Trade and Risk Management subcommittee. He also serves on the Jobs, Rural Economic Growth & Energy Innovation and Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Marketing & Agriculture Security subcommittees.
The committee has legislative jurisdiction over all discretionary spending legislation in the Senate. The Senate Appropriations Committee is the largest committee in the U.S. Senate, consisting of 29 members. Its role is defined by the U.S. Constitution, which requires "appropriations made by law" prior to the expenditure of any money from the Treasury, and is therefore one of the most powerful committees in the Senate. Senator Nelson is chairman of the Legislative Branch subcommittee. He also serves on the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration subcommittee, the Commerce, Justice, Science subcommittee, the Financial Services and General Government subcommittee, the Interior, Environment subcommittee, and the Military Construction, Veteran Affairs subcommittee.
The committee has legislative oversight of the Departments of Defense, Army, Navy, and Air Force. It also oversees military research and development, national security aspects of nuclear energy, the selective service, and all employment benefits for the Armed Forces. Senator Nelson is chairman of the Strategic Forces subcommittee and serves on the Airland and Readiness and Management Support subcommittees.
The committee is responsible for the rules of the United States Senate, with administration of congressional buildings, and with credentials and qualifications of members of the Senate, including responsibility for dealing with contested elections. The Rules committee is one of the oldest committees of the United States Senate. The origins date back to the early days of the Republic when the first Senate convened in March 1789 and established a committee to prepare a system of rules for conducting business in the Senate.