Committees and Caucuses

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have various committees, comprised of certain members, which have jurisdiction over specific issue areas. These committees play an important role in the legislative process, and are often where legislation that comes before the House floor is initially sent for review. Among the different functions that these committees perform are holding hearings on particular issues, marking up bills that are referred to their attention, and overseeing agencies under their jurisdiction. There are 20 current standing committees in the House, and 20 committees in the Senate; the two sets of committees are related but each has their own guidelines, leading to significant differences between the panels of the two chambers.

Congressman Brady is the Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, and is additionally a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Congressman Brady was elected Chairman of the Committee on House Administration in May of 2007 and served until the end of the 111th Congress in December 2010. In announcing his election, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi highlighted Brady’s “...experience as a leading member of the House Administration Committee for four years and his in-depth knowledge of the internal functions of the House.” She also highlighted his ability “to promote equality and diversity on Capitol Hill.” Congressman Brady currently serves as the Ranking Member on the Committee.

Currently, in his role as Ranking Member, Brady helps to lead the Committee’s oversight of federal elections and the day-to-day functions of the House of Representatives, as well as budget authorizations for expenses of House committees, and those for expenses of Members of Congress. The Committee is responsible for oversight of the House officers, including the administrative and technical functions of the House.

Additionally, the House Administration Committee oversees security on the House side of the Capitol Complex and works closely with the Capitol Police to ensure that every effort is made to keep the Capitol Complex secure while maintaining accessibility for the millions of constituents who visit every year. The Committee also oversees the management of the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution including the National Zoo.

In his role on the Committee on Armed Services, Congressman Brady serves on the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. As a member of this Committee, Congressman Brady continues to fight for the well being of our men and women and uniform. 

Additionally, there are four Joint Committees comprised of Members drawn from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. These are the Joint Economic Committee, the Joint Committee on the Library, the Joint Committee on Printing, and the Joint Committee on Taxation. Congressman Brady serves on the Joint Committee on Printing, the main function of which is to oversee the Government Printing Office, the principal printing organization for lawmakers and all Federal agencies.

Committee hearings are almost always open to the public and no tickets are required, although seating is often limited. To find a legislative calendar of the Committees, visit the Committee on House Administration website, or the Committee on Armed Services website.  Additionally, these hearings are also made available on the internet via Webcast, and can often be viewed through the Committee websites.

Caucuses

In the House of Representatives, there are also a number of Congressional Caucuses, which are groups that Members form to pursue common legislative objectives.  Unlike Committees, Caucuses have no formal legislative role.  Congressman Brady is a Member of the following House Caucuses: