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United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources facts for kids

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Senate Energy Committee
Standing committee
Active
Seal of the United States Senate.svg
United States Senate
119th Congress
History
Formed February 4, 1977
Succeeded Committee on Public Lands
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
Leadership
Chair Mike Lee (R)
Since January 3, 2025
Ranking member Martin Heinrich (D)
Since January 3, 2025
Structure
Seats 20 members
Political parties Majority (11) Minority (9)
Jurisdiction
Policy areas Alaska Natives, Coal mining, Energy industry, Federal lands, Hydrocarbon exploration, Hydroelectricity, Irrigation, Insular areas, Mining, Natural resource management, Nuclear power, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Reclamation, Renewable energy, Territorial possessions, Water resources
Oversight authority Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, Energy Information Administration, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Insular Affairs, National Nuclear Security Administration, National Park Service, Southeastern Power Administration, Southwestern Power Administration, Western Area Power Administration, United States Forest Service, United States Geological Survey
House counterpart
  • Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Committee on Natural Resources
  • Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Subcommittees
Meeting place
304 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Rules
  • Rule XXV.1.(g), Standing Rules of the Senate
  • Rules of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

The United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is a special group of senators in the United States Senate. Think of it like a team that focuses on important topics. This committee works on laws and issues related to energy, like how we get and use power. It also deals with natural resources, such as land, water, and minerals.

This committee helps manage federal lands, which are lands owned by the U.S. government. It also looks after areas belonging to America's native peoples. The committee's job is to make sure these resources are used wisely and protected. It used to be called the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. In 1977, it changed its name and some of its responsibilities.

History of the Committee

Early Beginnings: Public Lands

The committee's story began in 1816. Back then, it was called the Committee on Public Lands. Its first leader was Senator Jeremiah Morrow. In its early days, this committee helped manage new lands the U.S. bought, like the Louisiana Purchase.

As the United States grew westward, the committee played a big role. It oversaw important land deals like the Texas annexation and the Mexican Cession. It also helped create laws that allowed settlers to claim land, such as the Homestead Act of 1860.

Protecting Nature and Resources

In 1849, the Department of the Interior was created. This new department helped manage public lands and natural resources. The Public Lands Committee worked closely with it.

Over time, the committee became very important for protecting nature. Thanks to its efforts, Congress started to save forests, wilderness areas, and historical places. This led to laws like the Antiquities Act in 1906, which protects ancient sites. It also helped create the National Park Service in 1916, which manages our national parks.

Name Changes and New Focus

The committee has changed its name several times, but its main goals have stayed similar. In 1921, it became the Committee of Public Lands and Surveys. Later, in 1946, it was renamed the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. This new name showed it was now in charge of even more topics, including Native American affairs and mining.

Its most recent name, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, was given on February 4, 1977. This change happened after a big reorganization of Senate committees. At this time, many issues about Native Americans were moved to a different committee.

What the Committee Does: Its Jurisdiction

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has specific jobs, or "jurisdiction," given to it by Senate rules. This means that any new laws or ideas about these topics are sent to this committee first.

Here are some of the main things the committee works on:

  • Coal: How coal is produced, moved, and used for energy.
  • Energy Policy: Creating rules and plans for how the U.S. gets and uses energy.
  • Energy Rules and Saving Energy: Making sure energy companies follow rules and encouraging people to save energy.
  • Deepwater Ports: Looking at energy-related parts of very deep ports.
  • Energy Research: Supporting new ideas and studies about energy.
  • Minerals from Oceans: How we get minerals from the ocean and lands far offshore.
  • Water Power and Irrigation: Using water to make electricity (hydroelectric power) and managing water for farming.
  • Mining Education: Supporting learning and research about mining.
  • Mining and Mineral Rights: Rules about digging for minerals, who owns mineral rights, and protecting minerals.
  • National Parks and Wild Areas: Protecting and managing national parks, wilderness areas, and historical sites. This includes old ruins and interesting objects.
  • National Petroleum Reserve: Managing a special area in Alaska that holds oil.
  • Nuclear Energy: Developing nuclear power for peaceful uses, not for military.
  • Oil and Gas: How oil and gas are produced and moved around.
  • Public Lands and Forests: Managing government-owned lands and forests, including farming, grazing animals, and mining on these lands.
  • Solar Energy: Working on systems that use power from the sun.
  • U.S. Territories: Dealing with issues in places like Puerto Rico or Guam, which are U.S. territories.

The committee also studies and reviews everything related to energy and natural resources. They report their findings regularly to the Senate.

Who is on the Committee: 119th Congress Members

The committee has members from both major political parties. The "Majority" party has more members, and the "Minority" party has fewer. The "Chair" leads the committee, and the "Ranking Member" is the top member from the minority party.

Here are the members for the 119th Congress (which started in January 2025):

Majority (Republican) Minority (Democratic and Independent)

Smaller Teams: Subcommittees

The main committee has smaller groups called "subcommittees." These subcommittees focus on even more specific topics. This helps the committee work more efficiently. Each subcommittee also has a Chair and a Ranking Member.

Here are the subcommittees and their leaders:

Subcommittee Chair Ranking Member
Energy Dave McCormick (R-PA) Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
National Parks Steve Daines (R-MT) Angus King (I-ME)
Public Lands, Forests and Mining John Barrasso (R-WY) Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Water and Power John Hoeven (R-ND) Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Committee Leaders Through the Years

The person who leads the committee is called the Chair. This role has been held by many different senators over the years as the committee's name and focus have changed.

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 1977–present

See also

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