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.
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 Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance and a member of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
Mike was named to the House Committee on Ethics in 2013. This committee oversees all matters related to the Code of Official Conduct for House Members and their staff. It is the only House committee composed equally of Democratic and Republican Members.
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 and Technology. The Transportation Committee has jurisdiction over issues related to aviation, maritime transportation, railroads, highways, transit and pipelines and water resources. Currently Mike is a member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit and the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
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: