United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Last updated

Senate Energy Committee
Standing committee
Active
Seal of the United States Senate.svg
United States Senate
119th Congress
History
FormedFebruary 4, 1977
SucceededCommittee on Public Lands
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
Leadership
Chair Mike Lee (R)
Since January 3, 2025
Ranking member Martin Heinrich (D)
Since January 3, 2025
Structure
Seats20 members
Political partiesMajority (11)
  •   Republican (11)
Minority (9)
Jurisdiction
Policy areas Alaska Natives, Coal mining, Energy industry, Federal lands, Hydrocarbon exploration, Hydroelectricity, Irrigation, Insular areas, Mining, Natural resource management, Nuclear power, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Reclamation, Renewable energy, Territorial possessions, Water resources
Oversight authority Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, Energy Information Administration, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Insular Affairs, National Nuclear Security Administration, National Park Service, Southeastern Power Administration, Southwestern Power Administration, Western Area Power Administration, United States Forest Service, United States Geological Survey
House counterpart
Subcommittees
Meeting place
304 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Website
www.energy.senate.gov
Rules

    The United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It has jurisdiction over matters related to energy and mineral resources, including nuclear development; irrigation and reclamation, territorial possessions of the United States, trust lands appertaining to America's indigenous peoples, and the conservation, use, and disposition of federal lands. Its roots go back to the Committee on Interior and Insulars Affairs. In 1977, it became the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and most matters regarding Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians were removed from its jurisdiction and transferred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

    Contents

    History

    The Committee on Public Lands was created in 1816 during the 14th Congress chaired by senator Jeremiah Morrow. In its early years, it managed the settlement of the recently purchased Missouri Territory. Over time, the committee oversaw the western expansion of the United States, including the Texas annexation, the Oregon Treaty, the Mexican Cession, and the Gadsden Purchase. The Homestead Act of 1860, which would have benefited western settlers and migrants, was a result of jurisdiction of the Public Lands Committee.

    In 1849, the Department of the Interior was established, with the Public Lands Committee serving as legislative oversight. The committee became responsible for enacting legislation to conserve nature and its resources. Due to the actions of the committee, Congress began working towards preservation of forests, wilderness, and historical landmarks with the signing of the Antiquities Act in 1906 and the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916.

    The committee has gone under a number of name changes, but the functions and policy have remained similar to its creation. In 1921, the committee merged with the Committee on Geological Surveys to become the Committee of Public Lands and Surveys. Following the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, it became the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, absorbing the jurisdiction of the Indian Affairs, Territorial and Insular Affairs, Mines and Mining, and Irrigation and Reclamation committees. Its most recent iteration, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, was established on February 4, 1977, after the Committee System Reorganization Amendments of 1977. [1]

    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 Energy and Natural Resources:

    1. Coal production, distribution, and utilization;
    2. Energy policy;
    3. Energy regulation and conservation;
    4. Energy related aspects of deepwater ports;
    5. Energy research and development;
    6. Extraction of minerals from oceans and Outer Continental Shelf lands;
    7. Hydroelectric power, irrigation, and reclamation;
    8. Mining education and research;
    9. Mining, mineral lands, mining claims, and mineral conservation;
    10. National parks, recreation areas, wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, historical sites, military parks and battlefields, and on the public domain, preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of interest;
    11. National Petroleum Reserve;
    12. Nonmilitary development of nuclear energy;
    13. Oil and gas production and distribution;
    14. Public lands and forests, including farming and grazing thereon, and mineral extraction therefrom;
    15. Solar energy systems; and,
    16. Territorial possessions of the United States, including trusteeships. [2]

    The Committee is also charged to "study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to energy and resources development, and report thereon from time to time." [2]

    Members, 119th Congress

    Majority [3] Minority [4]

    Subcommittees

    Subcommittee [6] ChairRanking Member
    Energy Dave McCormick (R-PA) Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
    National Parks Steve Daines (R-MT) Angus King (I-ME)
    Public Lands, Forests and Mining John Barrasso (R-WY) Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
    Water and Power John Hoeven (R-ND) Ron Wyden (D-OR)

    Chairs

    Committee on Public Lands, 1816–1921

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Jeremiah Morrow Democratic-Republican OH18161819
    Thomas Williams Democratic-Republican MS18191820
    Jesse Thomas Democratic-Republican IL18191823
    David Barton Democratic-Republican
    (1823–1825)
    MO18231831
    National Republican
    (1825–1831)
    William King Jacksonian AL18311832
    Elias Kane Jacksonian IL18321833
    George Poindexter Whig MS18331835
    Thomas Ewing Whig OH18351836
    Robert Walker Jacksonian
    (1836–1837)
    MS18361841
    Democratic
    (1837–1841)
    Oliver Smith Whig IN18411843
    William Woodbridge Whig MI18431845
    Sidney Breese Democratic IL18451849
    Alpheus Felch Democratic MI18491853
    Solon Borland Democratic AR1853
    Augustus Dodge Democratic IA18531855
    Charles Stuart Democratic MI18551859
    Robert Johnson Democratic AR18591861
    James Harlan Republican IA18611865
    Samuel Pomeroy Republican KS18651873
    William Sprague Republican RI18731875
    Richard Oglesby Republican IL18751879
    Joseph McDonald Republican IN18791881
    Preston Plumb Republican KS18811891
    Joseph Dolph Republican OR18911893
    James Berry Democratic AR18931895
    Fred Dubois Republican ID18951897
    Henry Hansbrough Republican ND18971908
    Knute Nelson Republican MN19081912
    Reed Smoot Republican UT19121913
    George Chamberlain Democratic OR19131915
    Henry Myers Democratic MT19151919
    Reed Smoot Republican UT19191921

    Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, 1921–1947

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Reed Smoot Republican UT19211923
    Irvine Lenroot Republican WI19231924
    Edwin Ladd Republican ND1924
    Robert Stanfield Republican OR19241927
    Gerald Nye Republican ND19271933
    John Kendrick Democratic WY1933
    Robert Wagner Democratic NY19331937
    Alva Adams Democratic CO19371941
    Carl Hatch Democratic NM19411947

    Committee on Public Lands, 1947–1948

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Hugh Butler Republican NE19471948

    Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, 1948–1977

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Hugh Butler Republican NE19481949
    Joseph O'Mahoney Democratic WY19491953
    Hugh Butler Republican NE19531954
    Guy Cordon Republican OR19541955
    James Murray Democratic MT19551961
    Clinton Anderson Democratic NM19611963
    Scoop Jackson Democratic WA19631977

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 1977–present

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Scoop Jackson Democratic WA19771981
    Jim McClure Republican ID19811987
    Bennett Johnston Democratic LA19871995
    Frank Murkowski Republican AK19952001
    Jeff Bingaman Democratic NM2001
    Frank Murkowski Republican AK2001
    Jeff Bingaman Democratic NM20012003
    Pete Domenici Republican NM20032007
    Jeff Bingaman Democratic NM20072013
    Ron Wyden Democratic OR20132014
    Mary Landrieu Democratic LA20142015
    Lisa Murkowski Republican AK20152021
    Joe Manchin Democratic
    (2021–2024)
    WV20212025
    Independent Democrat
    (2024–2025)
    Mike Lee Republican UT2025present

    Ranking Members

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Carl Hatch Democratic NM19471949
    Hugh Butler Republican NE19491953
    James Murray Democratic MT19531955
    Eugene Millikin Republican CO19551957
    George Malone Republican NV19571959
    Henry Dworshak Republican IN19591963
    Thomas Kuchel Republican CA19631969
    Gordon Allott Republican CO19691973
    Paul Fannin Republican AZ19731977
    Clifford Hansen Republican WY19771979
    Mark Hatfield Republican OR19791981
    Scoop Jackson Democratic WA19811983
    Bennett Johnston Democratic LA19831987
    Jim McClure Republican ID19871991
    Malcolm Wallop Republican WY19911995
    Bennett Johnston Democratic LA19951997
    Dale Bumpers Democratic AR19971999
    Jeff Bingaman Democratic NM19992001
    Frank Murkowski Republican AK20012003
    Jeff Bingaman Democratic NM20032007
    Pete Domenici Republican NM20072009
    Lisa Murkowski Republican AK20092015
    Maria Cantwell Democratic WA20152019
    Joe Manchin Democratic WA20192021
    Lisa Murkowski Republican AK20212025
    Martin Heinrich Democratic NM2025present

    Historical committee rosters

    118th Congress

    Majority [7] Minority [8]
    Subcommittees
    Subcommittee [10] ChairRanking Member
    Energy Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Josh Hawley (R-MO)
    National Parks Angus King (I-ME) Steve Daines (R-MT)
    Public Lands, Forests and Mining Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) Mike Lee (R-UT)
    Water and Power Ron Wyden (D-OR) Jim Risch (R-ID)

    117th Congress

    MajorityMinority
    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
    Energy Mazie Hirono (D-HI) John Hoeven (R-ND)
    National Parks Angus King (I-ME) Steve Daines (R-MT)
    Public Lands, Forests and Mining Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) Mike Lee (R-UT)
    Water and Power Ron Wyden (D-OR) Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)

    116th Congress

    MajorityMinority
    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
    Energy Bill Cassidy (R-LA) Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
    National Parks Steve Daines (R-MT) Angus King (I-ME)
    Public Lands, Forests and Mining Mike Lee (R-UT) Ron Wyden (D-OR)
    Water and Power Martha McSally (R-AZ) (until December 2, 2020) Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)

    115th Congress

    MajorityMinority
    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
    Energy Cory Gardner (R-CO) Joe Manchin (D-WV)
    National Parks Steve Daines (R-MT) Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
    Public Lands, Forests and Mining Mike Lee (R-UT) Ron Wyden (D-OR)
    Water and Power Jeff Flake (R-AZ) Angus King (I-ME)

    Source [12]

    See also

    References

    1. "History". U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 1986. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
    2. 1 2 "Rule XXV(g) of the United States Senate | U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration". United States Senate. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
    3. S.Res. 16, S.Res. 26 (119th Congress)
    4. S.Res. 17 (119th Congress)
    5. 1 2 3 4 Sens. Manchin, Sanders and King are independent, but caucus(ed) with Democrats.
    6. "Energy and Natural Resources Committee Assigns Members to Subcommittees for 119th Congress". United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. February 11, 2025.
    7. S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)
    8. S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)
    9. "Majority Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Democratic Committee Assignments". Senate Democrats. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
    10. "Energy and Natural Resources Committee Assigns Members to Subcommittees for 118th Congress". United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
    11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sens. Sanders and King are independent, but caucus with Democrats.
    12. "U.S. Senate: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources". www.senate.gov. Retrieved January 8, 2017.