Committee and Caucus Memberships

My Committee

I proudly serve you on the powerful Committee on Energy & Commerce, where I sit on the subcommittees on Energy and Power, Environment and the Economy, and Health. The powerful Committee on Energy & Commerce has one of the widest ranges of responsibility in the House of Representatives, overseeing health care, energy and environmental protection, telecommunications, trade, consumer protection and other important issues. In addition to working in depth on these issues, I have also become a nationally recognized leader on a variety of topics, including Medicare reform, the nursing shortage, cancer, stroke and heart disease, domestic violence, and MTBE groundwater contamination.

Schedule for the Energy & Commerce Committee

My Caucuses

Congressional Nursing Caucus
As a nurse, I am deeply committed to educating my colleagues on nursing issues and supporting efforts to combat our nation’s current nurse shortage. I founded the Congressional Nursing Caucus in 2003 and continue to serve as a Caucus Co-Chair to help accomplish this goal. We now boast a growing membership of over 125 Members of Congress.

National Marine Sanctuary Caucus
I serve as the Co-Chair of the National Marine Sanctuary Caucus, a bipartisan coalition that is dedicated to increasing awareness and strengthening commitment to our nation’s National Marine Sanctuaries, including the Channel Islands and Monterey Bay. Our National Marine Sanctuaries protect over 150,000 square miles of coastal and open ocean waters, including countless species of wildlife and their habitat, while allowing compatible commercial and recreational activities.

Congressional Coastal Caucus
As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Coastal Caucus, I work to improve the quality of our coastal environment while enhancing the interests of those who live, work and do business in America’s coastal communities. Specifically, the Caucus keeps members informed about a wide range of coastal issues such as shore protection, watershed management and non-point source pollution.

Congressional School Health and Safety Caucus
As a school nurse in Santa Barbara County, I became intricately aware of the specific health issues children face in their schools. I founded the School Health and Safety Caucus to promote school health and safety, such as improving nutrition in schools.

House Cancer Caucus
As a Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus, I am working to advance the priorities of the cancer community and meet the 2015 goal for eliminating cancer deaths. The Caucus advocates for greater funding of cancer research, prevention, access to care and quality of life issues for those affected by cancer.

Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition
The Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition advocates for better research, treatment, and awareness about cardiovascular disease. Membership includes both Representatives and Senators. I currently serve as one of the House Co-Chairs of this Coalition.

LGBT Equality Caucus
I am an active member of the LGBT Equality Caucus, which works to establish equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community by advancing such issues as hate crimes legislation, federal benefits for the partners of LGBT government employees, and overturning the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy banning gays from serving openly in the military.

I am also a member of the following Caucuses:

Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change

Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC)

Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus

Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus

Congressional Aerospace Caucus

Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus

Congressional Arts Caucus

Congressional Autism Research Caucus

Congressional Bike Caucus

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus

Congressional Brain Injury Caucus

Congressional CA High Speed Rail Caucus

Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues

Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's Disease

Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan

Congressional Children’s Health Care Caucus

Congressional Community College Caucus

Congressional Diabetes Caucus

Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus

Congressional Foster Care Caucus

Congressional General Aviation Caucus

Congressional Global Health Caucus

Congressional Goods Movement Caucus

Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

Congressional High Tech Caucus

Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus

Congressional Human Rights Caucus

Congressional Humanities Caucus

Congressional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Caucus

Congressional Military Family Caucus

Congressional Military Veterans Caucus

Congressional National Parks Caucus

Congressional Native American Caucus

Congressional Oceans Caucus

Congressional Organic Caucus

Congressional PORTS Caucus

Congressional Public Broadcasting Caucus

Congressional Range & Testing Center Caucus

Congressional Recycling Caucus

Congressional Renewable Energy Caucus

Congressional Safe Climate Caucus

Congressional Shellfish Caucus

Congressional Small Business Caucus

Congressional Social Work Caucus

Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus

Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer ’s Disease

Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus

Congressional USO Congressional Caucus

Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus

Congressional Veterinary Medicine Caucus

Congressional Vision Caucus

Congressional Wild Salmon Caucus

Congressional Wine Caucus

Congressional Working Group on Parkinsons

Congressional Youth Challenge Caucus

Congressional Zoo and Aquarium Caucus

RuralTelecommunications Working Group

Study Group on Public Health