Ways and Means Committee
The Committee on Ways and Means is the oldest committee of the United States Congress, and is the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives. The Committee derives a large share of its jurisdiction from Article I, Section VII of the U.S. Constitution which declares, "All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives."
Congressman Schock participating in a Ways and Means committee hearing |
Trade subcommittee
Schock’s appointment to the highly coveted Trade subcommittee is especially relevant to the 18th District because of the synergy of economic interests relying on international trade to export products and commodities produced in Central and Western Illinois. 50% to 70% of products the high-wage manufacturing employees produce, along with all agriculture commodities are exported. The USA has 5% of the world population and trade expansion allows products grown or manufactured here to be sold to the other 95% of the world population. Trade expansion is vital for jobs and a growing economy in Illinois.
The subcommittee on trade has oversight over reciprocal trade agreements including multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations and implementation of agreements involving tariff and nontariff trade barriers. Current trade negotiations include the pending free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama.
Oversight subcommittee
The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Oversight shall include all matters within the scope of the full Committee’s jurisdiction but shall be limited to existing law. Said oversight jurisdiction shall not be exclusive but shall be concurrent with that of the other Subcommittees. With respect to matters involving the Internal Revenue Code and other revenue issues, said concurrent jurisdiction shall be shared with the full Committee.
Social Security subcommittee
The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Social Security shall include bills and matters referred to the Committee on Ways and Means that relate to the Federal Old-Age, Survivors’ and Disability Insurance System, the Railroad Retirement System, and employment taxes and trust fund operations relating to those systems.
Committee on House Administration
The Committee on House Administration is the committee of the House of Representatives charged with the oversight of federal elections and the day-to-day functions of the House of Representatives.
With the 110th Congress, two additional subcommittees were added to the Committee's jurisdiction: the Subcommittee on Capitol Security, which is focused on securing the Capitol complex and providing oversight of the Capitol Police and their emergency response procedures; and the Subcommittee on Election Reform, which examines issues related to elections and voting systems, including the adoption of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) provisions at the state level.
Election Reform
The Committee's jurisdiction over federal elections requires it to consider proposals to amend federal election law and to monitor Congressional elections across the United States. The Committee was instrumental in the passage of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter called the most meaningful improvement in election laws and voting safeguards in a generation. This law provided more than $3 billion dollars for the improvement of voting equipment and procedures to make the voting process more accessible and to guard against fraud.
House Operations
House Administration manages the daily operations that keep the House of Representatives running smoothly. The budget authorizations for expenses of House committees, and those for expenses of Members of Congress, are set by the Committee. Additionally, the Committee is responsible for oversight of the House officers, including the administrative and technical functions of the House.
Capitol Security
The security of the Capitol Complex has become an even higher priority since the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001. The House Administration Committee, which oversees security on the House side of the Capitol Complex, works closely with the Capitol Police to ensure that every effort is made to keep the Capitol Complex extremely secure while maintaining accessibility for the millions of constituents who visit every year.
Oversight
The Committee also oversees the management of the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution (including the National Zoo).
