About
The Committee on House Administration is charged with the oversight of federal elections and the day-to-day operations of the House of Representatives. With the 112th Congress, two subcommittees were added to the Committee's jurisdiction: the Subcommittee on Elections, which examines issues related to elections and voting systems, including the adoption of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) provisions at the state level, and the Subcommittee on Oversight which will focus on identifying and reducing wasteful spending within House operations and establish best practices to help improve services to the House community.
Election Reform
The Committee's jurisdiction over federal elections requires it to consider proposals to amend federal election law and to monitor congressional elections across the United States. The Committee was instrumental in the passage of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter called the most meaningful improvement in election laws and voting safeguards in a generation. This law provided more than $3 billion dollars for the upgrades of voting equipment and procedures to make the voting process more accessible and to guard against fraud.
House Operations
House Administration manages the daily operations that keep the House of Representatives running smoothly. The budget authorizations for expenses of House committees, and those for expenses of Members of Congress, are set by the Committee. Additionally, the Committee is responsible for oversight of House officers, including the administrative and technical functions of the House.
House Oversight
The Committee oversees the management of the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution (including the National Zoo), Chief Administrative Officer, Clerk of the House, Sergeant at Arms, House Inspector General, United States Capitol Police, Government Printing Office, Architect of the Capitol, and the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services
Capitol Security
The security of the Capitol Complex has become an even higher priority since the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001. The House Administration Committee, which oversees security on the House side of the Capitol Complex, works closely with the Capitol Police to ensure that every effort is made to keep the Capitol Complex extremely secure while maintaining accessibility for the millions of constituents who visit every year.