United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Last updated

Senate Commerce Committee
Standing committee
Active
Seal of the United States Senate.svg
United States Senate
119th Congress
History
FormedFebruary 4, 1977
Leadership
Chair Ted Cruz (R)
Since January 3, 2025
Ranking member Maria Cantwell (D)
Since January 3, 2025
Structure
Political partiesMajority (15)
  •   Republican (15)
Minority (13)
Jurisdiction
Policy areas Aviation, Coast Guard, Coastal zone management, Common carriers, Communications, Competitiveness, Consumer protection, Highways and highway safety, Inland waterways, Internet, Navigation, Interstate commerce, Marine conservation, Marine fisheries, Merchant Marine, Oceanography, Outer Continental Shelf lands, Panama Canal, Product safety and liability, Rail, Science policy of the United States, Sport, Standards of weights and measures, Tourism, Transportation generally, Weather and climate change
Oversight authority Coast Guard, CPSC, CPB, Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, FAA, FCC, FMC, FMCSA, FRA, FTC, MARAD, NASA, NHTSA, NIST, NOAA, NSF, NTIA, NTSB, OSTP, PHMSA, STB, TSA
House counterpart
Subcommittees
Meeting place
512 Dirksen Senate Building
Website
https://www.commerce.senate.gov/
Rules
  1. ↑ The "Energy" portion of the committee is a counterpart to the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee.
Charles Bolden, nominee for Administrator of NASA, center, and Lori Garver, right, nominee for deputy administrator of NASA, testify at their confirmation hearing before the Committee in 2009 Bolden and Garver before Congress.jpg
Charles Bolden, nominee for Administrator of NASA, center, and Lori Garver, right, nominee for deputy administrator of NASA, testify at their confirmation hearing before the Committee in 2009

The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is a standing committee of the United States Senate. [1] Besides having broad jurisdiction over all matters concerning interstate commerce, science and technology policy, and transportation, the Senate Commerce Committee is one of the largest of the Senate's standing committees, with 28 members in the 117th Congress. The Commerce Committee has six subcommittees. It is chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) as Ranking Member. The majority office is housed in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, and the minority office is located in the Hart Senate Office Building. [1]

Contents

History

The committee has its roots in the Committee on Commerce and Manufacturers, which served as a standing committee in the early-1800s. This committee was split in two in the 1820s and remained in this configuration until the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946. Under the LRA, the number of standing committees was dramatically decreased to increase congressional efficiency and increase institutional strength. As a result, the Committee on Commerce, the Committee on Manufactures, the Committee on Interstate Commerce, and the Committee on Interoceanic Canals were combined into the United States Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. In 1977, as a part of widespread committee reorganization, the committee was renamed the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and given additional oversight jurisdiction over nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The original progenitors of this committee were:

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 Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

  1. "Coast Guard;
  2. Coastal zone management;
  3. Communications;
  4. Highway safety;
  5. Inland waterways, except construction;
  6. Interstate commerce;
  7. Marine and ocean navigation, safety, and transportation, including navigational aspects of deepwater ports;
  8. Marine fisheries;
  9. Merchant marine and navigation;
  10. Nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences;
  11. Oceans, weather, and atmospheric activities;
  12. Panama Canal and interoceanic canals generally, except as provided in subparagraph (c);
  13. Regulation of consumer products and services, including testing related to toxic substances, other than pesticides, and except for credit, financial services, and housing;
  14. Regulation of interstate common carriers, including railroads, buses, trucks, vessels, pipelines, and civil aviation;
  15. Science, engineering, and technology research and development and policy;
  16. Sports;
  17. Standards and measurement;
  18. Transportation; and,
  19. Transportation and commerce aspects of Outer Continental Shelf lands." [2]

The Senate Commerce Committee is also charged to "study and review, on a comprehensive basis, all matters relating to science and technology, oceans policy, transportation, communications, and consumer affairs, and report thereon from time to time." [3]

Members, 119th Congress

Majority [4] Minority [5]

Subcommittees

Subcommittee [6] ChairRanking Member
Aviation, Space, and Innovation Jerry Moran (R-KS) Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Telecommunications and Media Deb Fischer (R-NE) Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)
Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries Dan Sullivan (R-AK) Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness Ted Budd (R-NC) Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety Todd Young (R-IN) Gary Peters (D-MI)

Chairs

The committee, under its various names, has had the below chairs. [7]

Committee on Commerce and Manufactures, 1816–1825

NamePartyStateStartEnd
William Hunter Federalist Rhode Island 18161817
Nathan Sanford Democratic-Republican New York 18171820
Mahlon Dickerson Democratic-Republican
(1820–1824)		 New Jersey 18201825
Crawford Democratic-Republican
(1824–1825)

Committee on Commerce, 1825–1947

NamePartyStateStartEnd
James Lloyd Adams-Clay Republican
(1825)		 Massachusetts 18251826
Adams Republican
(1825–1826)
Josiah Johnston Adams Republican Louisiana 18261827
Levi Woodbury Jacksonian New Hampshire 18271831
John Forsyth Jacksonian Georgia 18311832
William King Jacksonian Alabama 18321833
Nathaniel Silsbee Anti-Jackson Massachusetts 18331835
John Davis Anti-Jackson Massachusetts 18351836
William King Jacksonian
(1836–1837)		 Alabama 18361841
Democratic
(1837–1841)
Jabez Huntington Whig Connecticut 18411845
William Haywood Democratic North Carolina 18451846
John Dix Democratic New York 18461849
Hannibal Hamlin Democratic Maine 18491856
Henry Dodge Democratic Wisconsin 18561857
Clement Clay Democratic Alabama 18571861
William Bigler Democratic Pennsylvania 1861
Zachariah Chandler Republican Michigan 18611875
Roscoe Conkling Republican New York 18751879
John Gordon Democratic Georgia 18791880
Matt Ransom Democratic North Carolina 18801881
Roscoe Conkling Republican New York 1881
Samuel McMillan Republican Minnesota 18811887
William Frye Republican Maine 18871893
Matt Ransom Democratic North Carolina 18931895
William Frye Republican Maine 18951911
Knute Nelson Republican Minnesota 19111913
James Clarke Democratic Arkansas 19131916
Duncan Fletcher Democratic Florida 19161919
Wesley Jones Republican Washington 19191930
Hiram Johnson Republican California 19301933
Hubert Stephens Democratic Mississippi 19331935
Royal Copeland Democratic New York 19351939
Josiah Bailey Democratic North Carolina 19391946

Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 1947–1961

NamePartyStateStartEnd
Wallace White Republican Maine 19471949
Edwin Johnson Democratic Colorado 19491953
Charles Tobey Republican New Hampshire 1953
John Bricker Republican Ohio 19531955
Warren Magnuson Democratic Washington 19551961

Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, 1958–1977

NamePartyStateStartEnd
Lyndon Johnson Democratic Texas 19581961
Robert Kerr Democratic Oklahoma 19611963
Clinton Anderson Democratic New Mexico 19631973
Frank Moss Democratic Utah 19731977
Wendell Ford Democratic Kentucky 1977

Committee on Commerce, 1961–1977

NamePartyStateStartEnd
Warren Magnuson Democratic Washington 19611977

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 1977–present

NamePartyStateStartEnd
Warren Magnuson Democratic Washington 19771978
Howard Cannon Democratic Nevada 19781981
Bob Packwood Republican Oregon 19811985
John Danforth Republican Missouri 19851987
Fritz Hollings Democratic South Carolina 19871995
Larry Pressler Republican South Dakota 19951997
John McCain Republican Arizona 19972001
Fritz Hollings Democratic South Carolina 2001 [a]
John McCain Republican Arizona 2001
Fritz Hollings Democratic South Carolina 20012003 [b]
John McCain Republican Arizona 20032005
Ted Stevens Republican Alaska 20052007
Daniel Inouye Democratic Hawaii 20072009
Jay Rockefeller Democratic West Virginia 20092015
John Thune Republican South Dakota 20152019
Roger Wicker Republican Mississippi 20192021
Maria Cantwell Democratic Washington 20212025
Ted Cruz Republican Texas 2025present

Ranking Members

NamePartyStateStartEnd
Wallace White Republican Maine ???1947
Edwin Johnson Democratic Colorado 19471949
Charles Tobey Republican New Hampshire 19491953
Edwin Johnson Democratic Colorado 19531955
John Bricker Republican Ohio 19551959
Andrew Schoeppel Republican Kansas 19591962
John Butler Republican Maryland 19621963
Norris Cotton Republican New Hampshire 19631975
James Pearson Republican Kansas 19751979
Bob Packwood Republican Oregon 19791981
Howard Cannon Democratic Nevada 19811983
Fritz Hollings Democratic South Carolina 19831987
John Danforth Republican Missouri 19871995
Fritz Hollings Democratic South Carolina 19952001
John McCain Republican Arizona 20012003
Fritz Hollings Democratic South Carolina 20032005
Daniel Inouye Democratic Hawaii 20052007
Ted Stevens Republican Alaska 20072008
Kay Hutchison Republican Texas 20082013
John Thune Republican South Dakota 20132015
Bill Nelson Democratic Florida 20152019
Maria Cantwell Democratic Washington 20192021
Roger Wicker Republican Mississippi 20212023
Ted Cruz Republican Texas 20232025
Maria Cantwell Democratic Washington 2025present

Historical committee rosters

118th Congress

Majority [8] Minority [9]
Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Communications, Media and Broadband Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) John Thune (R-SD)
Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Security John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Space and Science Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports Gary Peters (D-MI) Todd Young (R-IN)
Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion Jacky Rosen (D-NV) Ted Budd (R-NC)

Source:

117th Congress

MajorityMinority
Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Communications, Media and Broadband Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) John Thune (R-SD)
Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Security Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Space and Science John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports Gary Peters (D-MI) Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion Jacky Rosen (D-NV) Rick Scott (R-FL)

Source: [11]

116th Congress

MajorityMinority
Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Aviation and Space Ted Cruz (R-TX) Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)
Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet John Thune (R-SD) Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection Jerry Moran (R-KS) Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Science, Oceans, Fisheries, and Weather Cory Gardner (R-CO) Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Security Dan Sullivan (R-AK) Ed Markey (D-MA)
Transportation and Safety Deb Fischer (R-NE) Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

115th Congress

MajorityMinority

Source [12]

Notes

  1. ↑ At the beginning of the 107th Congress in January 2001 the Senate was evenly divided. With a Democratic president and vice president still serving until January 20, the Democratic vice president was available to break a tie, and the Democrats thus controlled the Senate for 17 days, from January 3 to January 20. On January 3 the Senate adopted S. Res. 7 designating Democratic senators as committee chairs to serve during this period and Republican chairs to serve effective at noon on January 20, 2001.
  2. ↑ On June 6, 2001, the Democrats took control of the Senate after Senator James Jeffords (VT) changed from the Republican Party to Independent and announced that he would caucus with the Democrats.
  3. ↑ Kyrsten Sinema is formally an independent but caucuses with the Democrats.

References

  1. 1 2 "U.S. Senate Committee On Commerce, Science, & Transportation - About". U.S. Senate Committee On Commerce, Science, & Transportation.
  2. ↑ "Rules of the United States Senate". U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Retrieved May 31, 2019.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. ↑ "Rules Of The Senate | U.S. Senate Committee on Rules & Administration". www.rules.senate.gov.
  4. ↑ S.Res. 16 (119th Congress)
  5. ↑ S.Res. 17 (119th Congress)
  6. ↑ "Cruz, Cantwell Announce Commerce Subcommittee Rosters for 119th Congress". U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation. February 20, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Chairmen of Senate Standing Committees 1789-present" (PDF). Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  8. ↑ S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)
  9. ↑ S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)
  10. ↑ Mizelle, Shawna (February 2, 2023). "Rick Scott sees retribution in McConnell decision to pull him off Senate Commerce Committee | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Chair Cantwell Announces Subcommittee Leadership for the 117th Congress". U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation. February 19, 2021.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Senate: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation". www.senate.gov. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
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