United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Standing committee
Active

United States Senate
119th Congress
History
FormedFebruary 4, 1977
SucceededCommittee on Public Buildings and Grounds
Committee on Public Works
Leadership
ChairShelley Moore Capito (R)
Since January 3, 2025
Ranking memberSheldon Whitehouse (D)
Since January 3, 2025
Structure
Seats19 members
Political partiesMajority (10)
  •   Republican (10)
Minority (9)
Jurisdiction
Policy areasAir pollution, Biodiversity, Bridges and dams, Environmental policy, Environmental management, Environmental science, Federal buildings, Fisheries and wildlife, Flood control, Highways and roads, Infrastructure generally, Light pollution, Marine debris, Noise pollution, Nuclear safety, Recycling, Soil contamination, Waste management, Water pollution, Water resources
Oversight authorityAppalachian Regional Commission, Council on Environmental Quality, Delta Regional Authority, Economic Development Administration, Federal Highway Administration, General Services Administration, Mississippi River Commission, Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, United States Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
House counterpartHouse Committee on Energy and Commerce, House Committee on Natural Resources, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittees
Meeting place
304 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Website
epw.senate.gov
Rules

The United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is responsible for legislation and oversight of the natural and built environment and for studying matters concerning environmental protection and resource conservation and utilitization.

Jurisdiction

In accordance of Rule XXV of the United States Senate, all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects is referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works:

  1. Air pollution;
  2. Construction and maintenance of highways;
  3. Environmental aspects of Outer Continental Shelf lands;
  4. Environmental effects of toxic substances, other than pesticides;
  5. Environmental policy;
  6. Environmental research and development;
  7. Fisheries and wildlife;
  8. Flood control and improvements of rivers and harbors, including environmental aspects of deepwater ports;
  9. Noise pollution;
  10. Nonmilitary environmental regulation and control of nuclear energy;
  11. Ocean dumping;
  12. Public buildings and improved grounds of the United States generally, including Federal buildings in the District of Columbia;
  13. Public works, bridges, and dams;
  14. Regional economic development;
  15. Solid waste disposal and recycling;
  16. Water pollution; and,
  17. Water resources.[1]

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is also charged to "study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to environmental protection and resource utilization and conservation, and report thereon from time to time."[1]

Members, 119th Congress

Majority[2] Minority[3]

Subcommittees

Subcommittee Chair[5] Ranking Member[5]
Transportation and Infrastructure Kevin Cramer (R-ND) Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and Safety Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight John Curtis (R-UT) Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water Pete Ricketts (R-WY) Adam Schiff (D-CA)

Chairs

The committee has gone through several iterations starting in 1838. The chairs of these committees were:[6]

Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings, 1838–1857

Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, 1857–1883

Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, 1883–1947

Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Works, 1947–1977

Chairs of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 1977–present

Historical committee rosters

118th Congress

Majority[7] Minority[8]
Subcommittee
Subcommittee Chair Ranking Member
Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight Jeff Merkley (D-OR) Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)
Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety Ed Markey (D-MA) Pete Ricketts (R-NE)
Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Alex Padilla (D-CA) Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Transportation and Infrastructure Mark Kelly (D-AZ) Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

117th Congress

Majority Minority
Subcommittees
Subcommittee Chair Ranking Member
Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight Jeff Merkley (D-OR) Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety Ed Markey (D-MA) Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Transportation and Infrastructure Ben Cardin (D-MD) Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

116th Congress

Majority Minority
Subcommittees
Subcommittee Chair Ranking Member
Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Mike Braun (R-IN) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Fisheries, Water and Wildlife Kevin Cramer (R-ND) Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight Mike Rounds (R-SD) Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Transportation and Infrastructure Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) Ben Cardin (D-MD)

115th Congress

Majority Minority

114th Congress

Majority Minority

Source: 2013 Congressional Record, Vol. 159, Page S296

References

  1. ^ a b "Rule XXV(h) of the United States Senate | U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration". United States Senate. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  2. ^ S.Res. 16, S.Res. 38 (119th Congress)
  3. ^ S.Res. 17 (119th Congress)
  4. ^ a b c d e f Bernie Sanders is an Independent, but caucuses with Democrats on the committee.
  5. ^ a b "Capito, Whitehouse Announce EPW Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress". U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works. January 28, 2025.
  6. ^ History of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1988.
  7. ^ S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)
  8. ^ S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)
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