What does the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee do?
Chairmen have ability to schedule hearings, hire Committee staff and allocate the Committee budget. The Committee on Energy and Commerce is considered an exclusive Committee (along with Ways and Means, Appropriations, Financial Services and Rules) and has one of the largest issue portfolios of any House Committee. Currently, myself and the 56 other Members of the Committee work on legislation and oversight in several areas, including: air quality, energy, telecommunications, trade, Medicare and Medicaid, consumer protection, and hazardous materials.
