United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

Last updated

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Standing committee
Active
Seal of the United States Senate.svg
United States Senate
119th Congress
History
FormedFebruary 4, 1977
SucceededCommittee on Public Buildings and Grounds
Committee on Public Works
Leadership
Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R)
Since January 3, 2025
Ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D)
Since January 3, 2025
Structure
Seats19 members
Political partiesMajority (10)
  •   Republican (10)
Minority (9)
Jurisdiction
Policy areas Air 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 authority Appalachian 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 counterpart House 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.

    Contents

    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

    SubcommitteeChair [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. A list of these chairs is below. [6]

    Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings, 1819–1821

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Jonathan Roberts Democratic-Republican PA18191821

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

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    William Fulton Democratic AR18381841
    Alexander Barrow Whig LA1841
    John Kerr Whig MD18411842
    William Dayton Whig NJ18421843
    Sidney Breese Democratic IL18431845
    Simon Cameron Democratic PA18451846
    Jesse Bright Democratic IN18461847
    Robert Hunter Democratic VA18471851
    James Whitcomb Democratic IN18511852
    Charles James Democratic RI18521853
    James Bayard Democratic DE18531857

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

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Jesse Bright Democratic IN18571861
    Solomon Foot Republican VT18611866
    Gratz Brown Republican MO18661867
    William Fessenden Republican ME18671869
    Justin Morrill Republican VT18691878
    Henry Dawes Republican MA18781879
    Charles Jones Democratic FL18791881
    Edward Rollins Republican NH18831881

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

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    William Mahone Readjuster Republican VA18831887
    Leland Stanford Republican CA18871893
    George Vest Democratic MO18931895
    Matthew Quay Republican PA18951899
    Charles Fairbanks Republican IN18991905
    Francis Warren Republican WY1905
    Nathan Scott Republican WV19051911
    George Sutherland Republican UT19111913
    Claude Swanson Democratic VA19131918
    James Reed Democratic MO19181919
    Bert Fernald Republican ME19191926
    Irvine Lenroot Republican WI19261927
    Henry Keyes Republican NH19271933
    Tom Connally Democratic TX19331942
    Francis Maloney Democratic CT19421945
    Charles Andrews Democratic FL19451946

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

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Chapman Revercomb Republican WV19471949
    Dennis Chavez Democratic NM19491953
    Edward Martin Republican PA19531955
    Dennis Chavez Democratic NM19551962
    Pat McNamara Democratic MI19621966
    Jennings Randolph Democratic WV19661967

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

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Jennings Randolph Democratic WV19771981
    Robert Stafford Republican VT19811987
    Quentin Burdick Democratic ND19871992
    Pat Moynihan Democratic NY19921993
    Max Baucus Democratic MT19931995
    John Chafee Republican RI19951999
    Bob Smith Republican NH19992001
    Harry Reid Democratic NV2001
    Bob Smith Republican NH2001
    Jim Jeffords Independent [7] VT20012003
    Jim Inhofe Republican OK20032007
    Barbara Boxer Democratic CA20072015
    Jim Inhofe Republican OK20152017
    John Barrasso Republican WY20172021
    Tom Carper Democratic DE20212025
    Shelley Moore Capito Republican WV2025present

    Ranking Members

    A list of ranking members is below. [8] [9]

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    James Burrill Whig RI18191821
    Richard Bayard Whig DE18371839
    William Merrick Whig MD18391841
    William Fulton Democratic AR18411842
    Alfred Cuthbert Democratic GA18421843
    William Dayton Whig NJ18431847
    Presley Spruance Whig DE18471849
    John Clarke Whig RI18491853
    George Badger Whig NC18531855
    Thomas Pratt Whig MD18551857
    Daniel Clark Republican NH18571861
    Jesse Bright Democratic IN18611862
    John Henderson Democratic MO18621863
    Willard Saulsbury Democratic DE1863
    John Henderson Democratic MO18631864
    Thomas Hendricks Democratic IN18641865
    Gratz Brown Republican MO18651866
    Lyman Trumbull Republican IL18661867
    Reverdy Johnson Democratic MD18671869
    John Stockton Democratic NJ18691875
    Henry Cooper Democratic TN18751877
    Eli Saulsbury Democratic DE18771879
    Henry Dawes Republican MA18791881
    Charles Jones Democratic FL18811887
    George Vest Democratic MO18871893
    Justin Morrill Republican VT18931895
    George Vest Democratic MO18951903
    Charles Culberson Democratic TX19031913
    George Sutherland Republican UT19131917
    Francis Warren Republican WY19171919
    James Reed Democratic MO19191929
    Henry Ashurst Democratic AZ19291933
    Henry Keyes Republican NH19331937
    Warren Austin Republican VT19371938
    Frederick Hale Republican ME19381941
    Warren Barbour Republican NJ19411943
    Robert Taft Republican OH19431947
    John Overton Democratic LA19441948
    Dennis Chavez Democratic NM19481949
    Harry Cain Republican WA19491953
    Dennis Chavez Democratic NM19531955
    Edward Martin Republican PA19551959
    Francis Case Republican SD19591962
    John Cooper Republican KY19621973
    Howard Baker Republican TN19731975
    James Buckley Republican NY19751977
    Robert Stafford Republican VT19771981
    Jennings Randolph Democratic WV19811985
    Lloyd Bentsen Democratic TX19851987
    Robert Stafford Republican VT19871989
    John Chafee Republican RI19891995
    Max Baucus Democratic MT19952001
    Harry Reid Democratic NV2001
    Bob Smith Republican NH20012003
    Jim Jeffords Independent [10] VT20032007
    Jim Inhofe Republican OK20072013
    David Vitter Republican LA20132015
    Barbara Boxer Democratic CA20152017
    Tom Carper Democratic DE20172021
    Shelley Moore Capito Republican WV20212025
    Sheldon Whitehouse Democratic RI2025present

    Historical committee rosters

    118th Congress

    Majority [11] Minority [12]
    Subcommittee
    SubcommitteeChairRanking 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

    MajorityMinority
    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChairRanking 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

    MajorityMinority
    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChairRanking 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

    MajorityMinority

    114th Congress

    MajorityMinority

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

    References

    1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bernie Sanders is an Independent, but caucuses with Democrats on the committee.
    5. 1 2 "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. Jeffords crossed the floor to caucus with the Senate Democratic Caucus.
    8. https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/history
    9. https://www.google.ca/books/edition/History_of_the_Committee_on_Environment/69i7AAAAIAAJ
    10. Jeffords crossed the floor to caucus with the Senate Democratic Caucus.
    11. S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)
    12. S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)