AIP FYI #6: Congressional Committees with Jurisdiction over R&D, Education
The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News
Number 6: January 12, 2005
Congressional Committees with Jurisdiction over R&D, Education
Members of Congress have tremendous power over the conduct and
support of the nation’s research enterprise, through appropriating
the funds, authorizing programs, and carrying out oversight
activities. Yet the policymakers on Capitol Hill often get little
input from their constituents about science policy or budgets.
Those Members with probably the biggest impact on science programs
are the appropriators. They are responsible for writing the bills
that provide funding for federal departments and agencies. There
are 13 appropriations subcommittees in each chamber of Congress.
Within the jurisdiction of these subcommittees, R&D agencies often
have to compete for funding with other priorities, such as veterans’
and housing programs.
Authorization bills provide funding caps or guidelines for federal
programs. In theory, authorizing legislation is supposed to provide
guidance for appropriators. In reality, appropriators do not always
heed the authorizers, and authorization bills are often not passed
in a timely manner, if at all. However, authorization bills, even
in draft form, still can have an influence on funding for a project
or agency.
There are several major appropriations and authorization committees
or subcommittees in each chamber that have jurisdiction over most
federal programs tracked by FYI. To get information on committee
chairs, rosters, jurisdictions, hearing schedules and legislation,
or to determine if your representative or senators sit on a certain
committee, please see the (sub)committee web sites below. To find
the name of your representative, see http://www.house.gov/.
NOTE: Not all committee rosters and jurisdictions have been
finalized for the 109th Congress. Please check our “Communicating
with Congress” web site (http://www.aip.org/fyi/2005/006.html) for
updates and changes.
(Please be aware that many of the URLs run more than one line).
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3:
House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.Subcommittees&SubcommitteeId=6
House Armed Services Committee:
http://www.house.gov/hasc/
Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/defense/topics.cfm?code=def
Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities:
http://armed-services.senate.gov/scmembrs.htm#subet
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION:
House VA/HUD/Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.Subcommittees&SubcommitteeId=16
House Science Subcommittee on Research:
http://www.house.gov/science/committeeinfo/members/research/index.htm
Senate VA/HUD/Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/vahud/topics.cfm?code=va_hud
Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space:
http://commerce.senate.gov/subcommittees/science.cfm
NASA:
House VA/HUD/Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.Subcommittees&SubcommitteeId=16
House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics:
http://www.house.gov/science/committeeinfo/members/space/index.htm
Senate VA/HUD/Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/vahud/topics.cfm?code=va_hud
Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space:
http://commerce.senate.gov/subcommittees/science.cfm
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY:
House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.Subcommittees&SubcommitteeId=4
House Science Subcommittee on Energy:
http://www.house.gov/science/committeeinfo/members/energy/index.htm
Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/energy/topics.cfm?code=energy
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee:
http://energy.senate.gov/
FOR AUTHORIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S NATIONAL NUCLEAR
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION:
House Armed Services Committee:
http://www.house.gov/hasc/
Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces:
http://armed-services.senate.gov/scmembrs.htm#subs
NIST:
House Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.Subcommittees&SubcommitteeId=5
House Science Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards:
http://www.house.gov/science/committeeinfo/members/environment/index.htm
Senate Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/commjust/topics.cfm?code=commerce
Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space:
http://commerce.senate.gov/subcommittees/science.cfm
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:
House Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.Subcommittees&SubcommitteeId=11
House Education and the Workforce Committee:
http://edworkforce.house.gov/
Senate Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/labor/topics.cfm?code=labor
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee:
http://help.senate.gov/
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY R&D:
House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.Subcommittees&SubcommitteeId=14
House Science Committee:
http://www.house.gov/science/welcome.htm
Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee:
http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/homeland/topics.cfm?code=homeland
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee:
http://hsgac.senate.gov/
Audrey T. Leath
Media and Government Relations Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi@aip.org www.aip.org/gov
(301) 209-3094
