House Committee on Energy and Commerce

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest and most powerful committees in Congress. Established in 1795, it maintains jurisdiction over a remarkably broad range of policy areas including energy infrastructure and security, healthcare and public health, telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, environmental quality, and interstate commerce. The committee oversees numerous federal agencies including the Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Communications Commission, Food and Drug Administration, and Federal Trade Commission. Bills referred to the committee are reviewed by six subcommittees—Communications and Technology, Energy, Environment, Health, Commerce Manufacturing and Trade, and Oversight and Investigations—before advancing to the full House floor.

Bills flow through the committee via a structured process. Subcommittees hold hearings on policy issues and specific proposals, then conduct markups where members debate and amend legislation. Once a subcommittee approves a bill, it moves to a full committee markup where all members can further refine it. The committee then votes to report approved bills to the full House of Representatives for consideration. This committee work is where most legislative development happens before bills reach the House floor for a final vote.

The committee is currently led by Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), with 54 total members. Recent activity reflects the committee's wide-ranging focus. In early 2026, the committee advanced legislation on broadband deployment, emergency communications, maternal health, first responder networks, and healthcare workforce development. The committee has also been active on energy infrastructure security, children's online safety, vehicle safety standards, and environmental permitting reform. Recent markups have considered bills addressing cybersecurity for energy grids and utilities, online privacy protections for children, and automotive safety modernization.