United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works


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.
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."

Members, 119th Congress

Subcommittees

Chairs

The committee has gone through several iterations starting in 1838. A list of these chairs is below.

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

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

Ranking Members

A list of ranking members is below.

Historical committee rosters

118th Congress

;Subcommittee
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory OversightJeff Merkley Markwayne Mullin
Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear SafetyEd Markey Pete Ricketts
Fisheries, Water, and WildlifeAlex Padilla Cynthia Lummis
Transportation and InfrastructureMark Kelly Kevin Cramer

117th Congress

;Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory OversightJeff Merkley Roger Wicker
Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear SafetyEd Markey Jim Inhofe
Fisheries, Water, and WildlifeTammy Duckworth Cynthia Lummis
Transportation and InfrastructureBen Cardin Kevin Cramer

116th Congress

;Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Clean Air and Nuclear SafetyMike Braun Sheldon Whitehouse
Fisheries, Water and WildlifeKevin Cramer Tammy Duckworth
Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory OversightMike Rounds Cory Booker
Transportation and InfrastructureShelley Moore Capito Ben Cardin

115th Congress

114th Congress

Source: