Committee on Energy and Commerce
Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán was appointed to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in 2019, becoming the first Latina in 10 years to hold a seat on this prestigious committee and only the second Latina ever to do so. The Committee is at the forefront of combating climate change and fighting back against the Trump Administration’s efforts to roll back critical environmental regulations. On the committee, Rep. Barragán serves as a voice for the communities that have been on the frontlines of the negative health impacts associated with climate change and environmental injustice. From fighting for comprehensive and affordable healthcare for all to ensuring clean air and clean water for our communities, she works tirelessly for her fellow Americans and the constituents of California’s 44th Congressional District.
The Energy and Commerce Committee has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee in Congress. It legislates on a wide variety of issues, including:
- health care, including mental health and substance abuse
- health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid
- biomedical research and development
- food, drug, device and cosmetic safety
- environmental protection
- clean air and climate change
- safe drinking water
- toxic chemicals and hazardous waste
- national energy policy
- renewable energy and conservation
- nuclear facilities
- electronic communications and the internet
- broadcast and cable television
- privacy, cybersecurity and data security
- consumer protection and product safety
- motor vehicle safety
- travel, tourism and sports
- interstate and foreign commerce
Subcommittees
Energy
Jurisdiction includes national energy policy; fossil energy; renewable energy; nuclear energy; nuclear facilities; the Department of Energy; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; synthetic and alternative fuels; energy conservation; energy information; utility issues; interstate energy compacts; energy generation, marketing, reliability, transmission, siting, exploration, production, efficiency, cybersecurity, and ratemaking for all generated power; pipelines; all laws, programs, and government activities affecting energy matters, including all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.
Environment and Climate Change
Jurisdiction includes the Clean Air Act and air emissions; all matters related to soil, air, and water contamination, including Superfund and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the regulation of solid, hazardous, and nuclear wastes, including mining, nuclear, oil, gas, and coal combustion waste; emergency environmental response; industrial plant security, including cybersecurity; the regulation of drinking water (Safe Drinking Water Act), including underground injection of fluids (e.g., deep well injection or hydrofracking); toxic substances (Toxic Substances Control Act); noise; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.
Health
Jurisdiction includes public health and quarantine; hospital construction; mental health; biomedical research and development; health information technology, privacy, and cybersecurity; public health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid) and private health insurance; medical malpractice and medical malpractice insurance; the regulation of food, drugs, devices, cosmetics, and tobacco (the Food and Drug Administration); drug abuse; the Department of Health and Human Services; the National Institutes of Health; the Centers for Disease Control; Indian Health Service; and all aspects of the above-referenced jurisdiction related to the Department of Homeland Security.