United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

History

The Committee on Public Lands was created in 1816 during the 14th Congress chaired by senator Jeremiah Morrow. In its early years, it managed the settlement of the recently purchased Missouri Territory. Over time, the committee oversaw the western expansion of the United States, including the Texas annexation, the Oregon Treaty, the Mexican Cession, and the Gadsden Purchase. The Homestead Act of 1860, which would have benefited western settlers and migrants, was a result of jurisdiction of the Public Lands Committee.

In 1849, the Department of the Interior was established, with the Public Lands Committee serving as legislative oversight. The committee became responsible for enacting legislation to conserve nature and its resources. Due to the actions of the committee, Congress began working towards preservation of forests, wilderness, and historical landmarks with the signing of the Antiquities Act in 1906 and the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916.

The committee has gone under a number of name changes, but the functions and policy have remained similar to its creation. In 1921, the committee merged with the Committee on Geological Surveys to become the Committee of Public Lands and Surveys. Following the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, it became the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, absorbing the jurisdiction of the Indian Affairs, Territorial and Insular Affairs, Mines and Mining, and Irrigation and Reclamation committees. Its most recent iteration, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, was established on February 4, 1977, after the Committee System Reorganization Amendments of 1977.

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 Energy and Natural Resources:

1. Coal production, distribution, and utilization;
2. Energy policy;
3. Energy regulation and conservation;
4. Energy related aspects of deepwater ports;
5. Energy research and development;
6. Extraction of minerals from oceans and Outer Continental Shelf lands;
7. Hydroelectric power, irrigation, and reclamation;
8. Mining education and research;
9. Mining, mineral lands, mining claims, and mineral conservation;
10. National parks, recreation areas, wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, historical sites, military parks and battlefields, and on the public domain, preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of interest;
11. National Petroleum Reserve;
12. Nonmilitary development of nuclear energy;
13. Oil and gas production and distribution;
14. Public lands and forests, including farming and grazing thereon, and mineral extraction therefrom;
15. Solar energy systems; and,
16. Territorial possessions of the United States, including trusteeships. The Committee is also charged to "study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to energy and resources development, and report thereon from time to time."

Members, 119th Congress

Main article: 119th United States Congress

Subcommittees

Chairs

Committee on Public Lands, 1816–1921

Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, 1921–1947

Committee on Public Lands, 1947–1948

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, 1948–1977

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 1977–present

Ranking members

Historical committee rosters

118th Congress

Main article: 118th United States Congress

;Subcommittees

117th Congress

Main article: 117th United States Congress

;Subcommittees

116th Congress

Main article: 116th United States Congress

;Subcommittees

115th Congress

;Subcommittees

Source

References

References

1. (1986). "History". U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
2. "Rule XXV(g) of the United States Senate {{!}} U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration". United States Senate.
3. {{USBill. 119. SRes. 16, {{USBill. 119. SRes. 26 (119th Congress)
4. {{USBill. 119. SRes. 17 (119th Congress)
5. (February 11, 2025). "Energy and Natural Resources Committee Assigns Members to Subcommittees for 119th Congress". United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
6. {{USBill. 118. SRes. 30 (118th Congress)
7. {{USBill. 118. SRes. 31 (118th Congress)
8. Sens. Manchin, Sanders and King are independent, but caucus(ed) with Democrats.
9. (October 17, 2023). "Majority Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Democratic Committee Assignments".
10. (March 23, 2023). "Energy and Natural Resources Committee Assigns Members to Subcommittees for 118th Congress". United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
11. Sens. Sanders and King are independent, but caucus with Democrats.
12. "U.S. Senate: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources".