Senator Lautenberg's Committees
Senator Lautenberg serves on three Senate committees: Appropriations; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Environment and Public Works.
Appropriations
The Senate Appropriations Committee is the largest committee in the U.S. Senate. Its role is defined by the U.S. Constitution, which requires "appropriations made by law" prior to the expenditure of any money from the Federal treasury. The Committee writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. Appropriations are limited to the levels set by a Budget Resolution, drafted by the Senate Budget Committee. The Committee is also responsible for supplemental spending bills, which are sometimes needed in the middle of a fiscal year to compensate for emergency expenses.
Senator Lautenberg serves on six Appropriations subcommittees:
- Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- Energy and Water Development
- Financial Services and General Government
- Homeland Security
- State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
- Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
For more information, please visit the Committee's Web site.
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has jurisdiction over a number of government agencies and functions important to New Jersey, including the Coast Guard, highway safety, interstate commerce, and marine navigation, including deepwater ports such as the New York - New Jersey Port. In addition, the Committee regulates all interstate common carriers, including railroads, buses, trucks, vessels, pipelines, civil aviation and telecommunications.
Senator Lautenberg serves on four Commece subcommittees:
- Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security, Chair
- Aviation Operations, Safety and Security
- Communications, Technology and the Internet
- Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard
For more information, please visit the Committee's Web site.
Environment and Public Works
The Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee is responsible for protecting the nation's natural environment, including its air, water and wildlife. The Committee also regulates nonmilitary nuclear power and oversees the nation's surface transportation infrastructure.
Senator Lautenberg serves on three EPW subcommittees:
- Superfund, Toxics, and Environmental Health, Chair
- Transportation and Infrastructure
- Water and Wildlife
For more information, please visit the Committee's Web site.
Chairmanships
Senator Lautenberg serves as chairman of two Senate committees, one on the Commerce Committee and the second on Environment and Public Works.
Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security
As part of the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, Senator Lautenberg ’s subcommittee will have jurisdiction over:
- Railroads (freight and intercity passenger)
- Pipelines
- Motor carriers (interstate trucking)
- Domestic and international ocean shipping
- Commercial passenger vessels
- Port infrastructure and operations
- Hazardous materials transportation
- Surface and maritime transportation research
- Surface and maritime transportation security
- Household goods and shipping consumer protection
- DOT surface and maritime transportation nominations
For more information, please visit the Committee's Web site.
Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health
As part of the Environment & Public Works Committee, Senator Lautenberg ’s subcommittee will oversee the nation’s Superfund program, the regulation of chemicals in consumer products we use every day and hazardous waste. Specifically, Lautenberg’s subcommittee will oversee:
- Superfund and Brownfields;
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), including recycling, federal facilities and interstate waste;
- Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA);
- Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA);
- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs);
- Environmental Justice; and
- Risk Assessment.
For more information, please visit the Committee's Web site.
