Committees
Jurisdiction
- National energy policy generally.
- Health and health facilities (except health care supported by payroll deductions).
- Interstate and foreign commerce generally.
- Consumer affairs and consumer protection.
- Exploration, production, storage, supply, marketing, pricing, and regulation of energy resources, including all fossil fuels, solar energy, and other unconventional or renewable energy resources.
- Interstate energy compacts.
- Conservation of energy resources.
- Energy information generally.
- The generation and marketing of power (except by federally chartered or Federal regional power marketing authorities); reliability and interstate transmission of, and ratemaking for, all power; and siting of generation facilities (except the installation of interconnections between Government waterpower projects).
- General management of the Department of Energy and management and all functions of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
- Biomedical research and development.
- Public health and quarantine.
- Regulation of the domestic nuclear energy industry, including regulation of research and development reactors and nuclear regulatory research.
- Regulation of interstate and foreign communications.
- Travel and tourism.
Subcommittees and Jurisdictions
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection
- Interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee;
- Regulation of commercial practices (the FTC), including sports-related matters;
- Consumer affairs and consumer protection, including privacy matters generally; consumer product safety (the CPSC); and product liability; and motor vehicle safety;
- Regulation of travel, tourism, and time; and,
- Toxic substances and noise pollution.
Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- National energy policy generally;
- Fossil energy, renewable energy resources and synthetic fuels; energy conservation; energy information; energy regulation and utilization;
- Utility issues and regulation of nuclear facilities;
- Interstate energy compacts;
- Nuclear energy and waste;
- Superfund, RCRA, the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Air Act.
Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
- Interstate and foreign telecommunications including, but not limited to all telecommunication and information transmission by broadcast, radio, wire, microwave, satellite, or other mode.
Jurisdiction
The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has jurisdiction over all bills, resolutions and other matters relating to the Code of Official Conduct adopted under House Rule XXIV.
With respect to Members, officers, and employees of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is authorized to undertake the following actions:
A) Recommend administrative actions to establish or enforce standards of official conduct.
B) Investigate alleged violations of the Code of Official Conduct or of any applicable rules, laws, or regulations governing the performance of official duties or the discharge of official responsibilities. Such investigations must be made in accordance with Committee rules.
C) Report to appropriate federal or State authorities substantial evidence of a violation of any law applicable to the performance of official duties that may have been disclosed in a Committee investigation. Such reports must be approved by the House or by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Committee.
D) Render advisory opinions regarding the propriety of any current or proposed conduct of a Member, officer, or employee, and issue general guidance on such matters as necessary.
E) Consider requests for written waivers of the gift rule (clause 5 of House Rule XXVI)
All provisions of the gift rule are to be interpreted and enforced solely by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The Committee is authorized to issue guidance on any matter contained in the rule.
Ethics in Government Act
The Ethics in Government Act (EIGA) designates the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct as the "supervising ethics office" for the House of Representatives and charges the Committee with duties and responsibilities for Financial Disclosure Statements (Title I) and for Outside Employment (Title V) with respect to Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives.
The statute also charges the Committee with duties and responsibilities with regard to (1) the Financial Disclosure Statements of candidates for the House, and (2) the Financial Disclosure Statements and Outside Employment of officers and employees of certain legislative branch agencies, including the Library of Congress, the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Printing Office, the Architect of the Capitol, and the United States Botanic Garden. However, the Committee has delegated much of its authority with regard to the officers and employees of those agencies to the heads of those agencies.
Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act
The Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act (5 U.S.C. § 7342) designates the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct as the "employing agency" for the House of Representatives and charges the Committee to administer the provisions of the FGDA with respect to Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives.
5 U.S.C. § 7351 — Gifts to Superiors
Under 5 U.S.C. § 7351, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is designated the "supervising ethics office" for the House of Representatives and charges the Committee with duties and responsibilities regarding the statutory prohibitions against Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives giving gifts to an official superior or receiving gifts from employees with a lower salary level.
Committee authority with regard to the employees of certain legislative branch agencies has been delegated to the heads of those agencies (see the section on the Ethics in Government Act above).
5 U.S.C. § 7353 — Gifts to Federal Employees
Under 5 U.S.C. § 7353, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is designated the "supervising ethics office" for the House of Representatives and charges the Committee with duties and responsibilities regarding the statutory prohibitions against Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives soliciting or receiving gifts.
Committee authority with regard to the employees of certain legislative branch agencies has been delegated to the heads of those agencies (see the section on the Ethics in Government Act above).
