Informal congressional groups and organizations of members with shared interests in specific issues or philosophies have been part of the American policymaking process since colonial times. Typically, these groups organize without official recognition by the chamber and are not funded through the appropriation process.
In the Senate there is one officially recognized caucus -- the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control established by law in 1985.
Joint Select
Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform
Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123), signed into law on February 9, 2018, created two new joint select committees of the House and Senate. Each committee is made up of 16 members from the House (8 members) and Senate (8 members). Both committees are scheduled to terminate on December 31, 2018, or 30 days after submission of their final report.
