View source for United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

{{Merge from|United States Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds|date=June 2025|discuss=Talk:United States Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds}}{{Short description|Standing committee of the United States Senate}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. congressional committee
| name               = Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
| type               = standing
| chamber            = senate
| congress           = 119th
| status             = active
| formed             = February 4, 1977
| succeeded          = Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds<br>Committee on Public Works
| chair              = [[Shelley Moore Capito]]
| chair_party        = R
| chair_since        = January 3, 2025
| ranking_member     = [[Sheldon Whitehouse]]
| rm_party           = D
| rm_since           = January 3, 2025
| seats              = 19 members
| majority1  = R 
| majority1_seats = 10
| minority1          = D
| minority1_seats    = 8
| minority2          = I
| minority2_seats    = 1
| policy_areas       = [[Air pollution]], [[Biodiversity]], [[Bridges]] and [[dams]], [[Environmental policy of the United States|Environmental policy]], [[Environmental management]], [[Environmental science]], [[Federal buildings]], [[Fishery|Fisheries]] and [[wildlife conservation|wildlife]], [[Flood control]], [[Highways]] and [[roads]], [[Infrastructure]] generally, [[Light pollution]], [[Marine debris]], [[Noise pollution]], [[Nuclear safety]], [[Recycling]], [[Soil contamination]], [[Waste management]], [[Water pollution]], [[Water resources]]
| oversight          = [[Appalachian Regional Commission]], [[Council on Environmental Quality]], [[Delta Regional Authority]], [[Economic Development Administration]], [[Federal Highway Administration]], [[General Services Administration]], [[Mississippi River Commission]], [[Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation]], [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]], [[Tennessee Valley Authority]], [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]], [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]], [[U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board]], [[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]] 
| counterpart        = [[United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce|House Committee on Energy and Commerce]], [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Committee on Natural Resources]], [[United States House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology|House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology]], [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]]
|subcommittees={{bulleted list
|list_style=text-align:left
|'''[[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety|Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety]]'''
|'''[[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife|Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife]]'''
|'''[[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight|Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight]]'''
|'''[[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Transportation and Infrastructure]]'''
}}
| meeting_place      = [[Dirksen Senate Office Building|304 Dirksen Senate Office Building]]<br>[[Washington, D.C.]]
| meeting_image      =
| meeting_img_size   = 
| website            = {{URL|epw.senate.gov}}
| chamber_rules      = [https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDOC-113sdoc18/pdf/CDOC-113sdoc18.pdf#page=28 Rule XXV.1.(h), Standing Rules of the Senate]
| committee_rules    = [https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/committee-rules Rules of the Committee on Environment and Public Works]
| notes              = 
}}
The '''United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works''' is responsible for legislation and oversight of the natural and built environment and for studying matters concerning [[environmental protection]] and [[nature conservation|resource conservation]] and [[resource consumption|utilitization]].

==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 Environment and Public Works:
# [[Air pollution]];
# [[Road#Construction|Construction]] and [[Road#Maintenance|maintenance]] of [[highway]]s;
# Environmental aspects of [[Outer Continental Shelf]] lands;
# [[Environmental health|Environmental effects of toxic substances, other than pesticides]];
# [[Environmental policy]];
# [[Environmental science|Environmental research and development]];
# [[Fishery|Fisheries]] and [[wildlife conservation|wildlife]];
# [[Flood control]] and [[civil engineering|improvements of rivers and harbors]], including environmental aspects of [[deepwater port]]s;
# [[Noise pollution]];
# [[Nuclear safety and security|Nonmilitary environmental regulation and control of nuclear energy]];
# [[Ocean dumping]];
# [[Physical plant|Public buildings]] and [[Groundskeeping|improved grounds]] of the United States generally, including [[Federal building]]s in the [[District of Columbia]];
# [[Public works]], [[bridge]]s, and [[dam]]s;
# [[Economic Development Administration|Regional economic development]];
# [[Waste management|Solid waste disposal]] and [[recycling]];
# [[Water pollution]]; and,
# [[Water resources]].<ref name="Environment">{{cite web|title=Rule XXV(h) of the United States Senate {{!}} U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|url=https://www.rules.senate.gov/rules-of-the-senate|publisher=United States Senate|access-date=14 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is also charged to "study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to [[environmental protection]] and [[resource consumption|resource utilization]] and [[conservation movement|conservation]], and report thereon from time to time."<ref name="Environment" />

==Members, 119th Congress==
{|class=wikitable
! Majority<ref>{{USBill|119|SRes|16}}, {{USBill|119|SRes|38}} (119th Congress)</ref>
! Minority<ref>{{USBill|119|SRes|17}} (119th Congress)</ref>
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} valign=top |
* [[Shelley Moore Capito]], West Virginia, ''Chair''
* [[Kevin Cramer]], North Dakota
* [[Cynthia Lummis]], Wyoming
* [[John Curtis]], Utah
* [[Lindsey Graham]], South Carolina
* [[Dan Sullivan (U.S. senator)|Dan Sullivan]], Alaska
* [[Pete Ricketts]], Nebraska
* [[Roger Wicker]], Mississippi
* [[John Boozman]], Arkansas
* [[Jon Husted]], Ohio (from January 24, 2025)
| {{party shading/Democratic}} valign=top |
* [[Sheldon Whitehouse]], Rhode Island, ''Ranking Member''
* <span {{party shading/Independent}}>[[Bernie Sanders]], Vermont<ref name="Sanders">Bernie Sanders is an Independent, but caucuses with Democrats on the committee.</ref></span>
* [[Jeff Merkley]], Oregon
* [[Ed Markey]], Massachusetts
* [[Mark Kelly]], Arizona
* [[Alex Padilla]], California
* [[Adam Schiff]], California
* [[Lisa Blunt Rochester]], Delaware
* [[Angela Alsobrooks]], Maryland
|}

==Subcommittees==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:50%;"| Subcommittee
! Chair<ref name=roster119>{{cite web|url=https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases-republican?ID=5A9BB438-F5C7-4EFE-A944-EB07A2B6124A|title=Capito, Whitehouse Announce EPW Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress|date=January 28, 2025|work=U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works}}</ref>
! Ranking Member<ref name=roster119 />
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Transportation and Infrastructure]]
| [[Kevin Cramer]] (R-ND)
| [[Angela Alsobrooks]] (D-MD)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and Safety|Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and Safety]]
| [[Cynthia Lummis]] (R-WY)
| [[Mark Kelly]] (D-AZ)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight|Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight]]
| [[John Curtis]] (R-UT)
| [[Jeff Merkley]] (D-OR)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water|Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water]]
| [[Pete Ricketts]] (R-WY)
| [[Adam Schiff]] (D-CA)
|}

==Chairmen==
The committee has gone through several iterations starting in 1838. The chairmen of these committees were:<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.ca/books/edition/History_of_the_Committee_on_Environment/69i7AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=United+States+Senate+%22Committee+on+Public+Buildings+and+Grounds%22&pg=PA4&printsec=frontcover |title=History of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate |date=1988 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |language=en}}</ref>

===Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings, 1838–1857===
*[[William S. Fulton]] (D-AR) 1838–1841
*[[John Leeds Kerr]] (W-MD) 1841–1842
*[[William L. Dayton]] (W-NJ) 1842–1845
*[[Simon Cameron]] (D-PA) 1845–1846
*[[Jesse D. Bright]] (D-IN) 1846–1847
*[[Robert M. T. Hunter]] (D-VA) 1847–1851
*[[James Whitcomb]] (D-IN) 1851–1852
*[[Charles Tillinghast James|Charles James]] (D-RI) 1852–1853
*[[James Asheton Bayard III|James Bayard]] (D-DE) 1853–1857

===Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, 1857–1883===
*[[Jesse D. Bright]] (D-IN) 1857–1861
*[[Solomon Foot]] (R-VT) 1861–1866
*[[B. Gratz Brown]] (R-MO) 1866–1867
*[[William P. Fessenden]] (R-ME) 1867–1869
*[[Justin S. Morrill]] (R-VT) 1869–1878
*[[Henry L. Dawes|Henry Dawes]] (R-MA) 1878–1879
*[[Charles W. Jones]] (D-FL) 1879–1881
*[[Edward H. Rollins]] (R-NH) 1881–1883

===Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, 1883–1947===
*[[William Mahone]] (R-VA) 1883–1887
*[[Leland Stanford]] (R-CA) 1887–1893
*[[George Graham Vest|George Vest]] (D-MO) 1893–1895
*[[Matthew S. Quay]] (R-PA) 1895–1899
*[[Charles W. Fairbanks]] (R-IN) 1899–1905
*[[Francis E. Warren]] (R-WY) 1905
*[[Nathan B. Scott]] (R-WV) 1905–1911
*[[George Sutherland]] (R-UT) 1911–1913
*[[Claude A. Swanson]] (D-VA) 1913–1918
*[[James A. Reed (politician)|James A. Reed]] (D-MO) 1918–1919
*[[Bert M. Fernald]] (R-ME) 1919–1926
*[[Irvine L. Lenroot]] (R-WI) 1926–1927
*[[Henry W. Keyes]] (R-NH) 1927–1933
*[[Tom Connally]] (D-TX) 1933–1942
*[[Francis T. Maloney|Francis Maloney]] (D-CT) 1942–1945
*[[Charles O. Andrews]] (D-FL) 1945–1947

===Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Public Works, 1947–1977===
*[[Chapman Revercomb]] (R-WV) 1947–1949
*[[Dennis Chavez]] (D-NM) 1949–1953
*[[Edward Martin (Pennsylvania politician)|Edward Martin]] (R-PA) 1953–1955
*[[Dennis Chavez]] (D-NM) 1955–1962
*[[Patrick V. McNamara]] (D-MI) 1962–1966
*[[Jennings Randolph]] (D-WV) 1966–1977

===Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 1977–present===
*[[Jennings Randolph]] (D-WV) 1977–1981
*[[Robert T. Stafford]] (R-VT) 1981–1987
*[[Quentin N. Burdick]] (D-ND) 1987–1992
*[[Daniel Patrick Moynihan]] (D-NY) 1992–1993
*[[Max Baucus]] (D-MT) 1993–1995
*[[John Chafee|John H. Chafee]] (R-RI) 1995–1999
*[[Bob Smith (New Hampshire politician)|Bob Smith]] (R-NH) 1999–2001
*[[Harry Reid]] (D-NV) 2001
*[[Bob Smith (New Hampshire politician)|Bob Smith]] (R-NH) 2001
*[[Jim Jeffords]] (I-VT) 2001–2003
*[[James Inhofe]] (R-OK) 2003–2007
*[[Barbara Boxer]] (D-CA) 2007–2015
*[[James Inhofe]] (R-OK) 2015-2017
*[[John Barrasso]] (R-WY) 2017–2021
*[[Tom Carper]] (D-DE) 2021–2025
*[[Shelley Moore Capito]] (R-WV) 2025–present

== Historical committee rosters ==
===118th Congress===
{|class=wikitable
! Majority<ref>{{USBill|118|SRes|30}} (118th Congress)</ref>
! Minority<ref>{{USBill|118|SRes|31}} (118th Congress)</ref>
|-
| {{party shading/Democratic}} valign=top |
* [[Tom Carper]], Delaware, ''Chair''
* [[Ben Cardin]], Maryland
* <span {{party shading/Independent}}>[[Bernie Sanders]], Vermont<ref name="Sanders" /></span>
* [[Sheldon Whitehouse]], Rhode Island
* [[Jeff Merkley]], Oregon
* [[Ed Markey]], Massachusetts
* [[Debbie Stabenow]], Michigan
* [[Mark Kelly]], Arizona
* [[Alex Padilla]], California
* [[John Fetterman]], Pennsylvania
| {{party shading/Republican}} valign=top |
* [[Shelley Moore Capito]], West Virginia, ''Ranking Member''
* [[Kevin Cramer]], North Dakota
* [[Cynthia Lummis]], Wyoming
* [[Markwayne Mullin]], Oklahoma
* [[Pete Ricketts]], Nebraska
* [[John Boozman]], Arkansas
* [[Roger Wicker]], Mississippi
* [[Dan Sullivan (U.S. senator)|Dan Sullivan]], Alaska
* [[Lindsey Graham]], South Carolina
|}
;Subcommittee
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:50%;"| Subcommittee
! Chair
! Ranking Member
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight|Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight]]
| [[Jeff Merkley]] (D-OR)
| [[Markwayne Mullin]] (R-OK)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety|Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety]]
| [[Ed Markey]] (D-MA)
| [[Pete Ricketts]] (R-NE)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife|Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife]]
| [[Alex Padilla]] (D-CA)
| [[Cynthia Lummis]] (R-WY)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Transportation and Infrastructure]]
| [[Mark Kelly]] (D-AZ)
| [[Kevin Cramer]] (R-ND)
|}
===117th Congress===
{|class=wikitable
! Majority
! Minority
|-
| {{party shading/Democratic}} valign=top |
* [[Tom Carper]], Delaware, ''Chair''
* [[Ben Cardin]], Maryland
* <span {{party shading/Independent}}>[[Bernie Sanders]], Vermont<ref name="Sanders" /></span>
* [[Sheldon Whitehouse]], Rhode Island
* [[Jeff Merkley]], Oregon
* [[Ed Markey]], Massachusetts
* [[Tammy Duckworth]], Illinois
* [[Debbie Stabenow]], Michigan
* [[Mark Kelly]], Arizona
* [[Alex Padilla]], California
| {{party shading/Republican}} valign=top |
* [[Shelley Moore Capito]], West Virginia, ''Ranking Member''
* [[Jim Inhofe]], Oklahoma
* [[Kevin Cramer]], North Dakota
* [[Cynthia Lummis]], Wyoming
* [[Richard Shelby]], Alabama
* [[John Boozman]], Arkansas
* [[Roger Wicker]], Mississippi
* [[Dan Sullivan (U.S. senator)|Dan Sullivan]], Alaska
* [[Joni Ernst]], Iowa
* [[Lindsey Graham]], South Carolina
|}

;Subcommittees
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:50%;"| Subcommittee
! Chair
! Ranking Member
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight|Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight]]
| [[Jeff Merkley]] (D-OR)
| [[Roger Wicker]] (R-MS)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety|Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety]]
| [[Ed Markey]] (D-MA)
| [[Jim Inhofe]] (R-OK)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife|Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife]]
| [[Tammy Duckworth]] (D-IL)
| [[Cynthia Lummis]] (R-WY)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Transportation and Infrastructure]]
| [[Ben Cardin]] (D-MD)
| [[Kevin Cramer]] (R-ND)
|}

===116th Congress===
{|class=wikitable
! Majority
! Minority
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} valign=top |
* [[John Barrasso]], Wyoming, ''Chairman''
* [[Jim Inhofe]], Oklahoma
* [[Shelley Moore Capito]], West Virginia
* [[John Boozman]], Arkansas
* [[Roger Wicker]], Mississippi
* [[Mike Rounds]], South Dakota
* [[Joni Ernst]], Iowa
* [[Richard Shelby]], Alabama
* [[Dan Sullivan (U.S. senator)|Dan Sullivan]], Alaska
* [[Kevin Cramer]], North Dakota
* [[Mike Braun]], Indiana
| {{party shading/Democratic}} valign=top |
* [[Tom Carper]], Delaware, ''Ranking Member''
* [[Ben Cardin]], Maryland
* <span {{party shading/Independent}}>[[Bernie Sanders]], Vermont<ref name="Sanders"/></span>
* [[Sheldon Whitehouse]], Rhode Island
* [[Jeff Merkley]], Oregon
* [[Kirsten Gillibrand]], New York
* [[Cory Booker]], New Jersey
* [[Ed Markey]], Massachusetts
* [[Tammy Duckworth]], Illinois
* [[Chris Van Hollen]], Maryland
|}
;Subcommittees
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:50%;"| Subcommittee
! Chair
! Ranking Member
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety|Clean Air and Nuclear Safety]]
| [[Mike Braun]] (R-IN)
| [[Sheldon Whitehouse]] (D-RI)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife|Fisheries, Water and Wildlife]]
| [[Kevin Cramer]] (R-ND)
| [[Tammy Duckworth]] (D-IL)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight|Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight]]
| [[Mike Rounds]] (R-SD)
| [[Cory Booker]] (D-NJ)
|-
| [[United States Senate Environment Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Transportation and Infrastructure]]
| [[Shelley Moore Capito]] (R-WV)
| [[Ben Cardin]] (D-MD)
|}

===115th Congress===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Majority
! Minority
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} valign=top |
*  [[John Barrasso]], Wyoming, ''Chairman'' 
* [[Jim Inhofe]], Oklahoma
* [[Shelley Moore Capito]], West Virginia
* [[John Boozman]], Arkansas
* [[Roger Wicker]], Mississippi
* [[Deb Fischer]], Nebraska
* [[Jerry Moran]], Kansas
* [[Mike Rounds]], South Dakota
* [[Joni Ernst]], Iowa 
* [[Richard Shelby]], Alabama
* [[Dan Sullivan (U.S. Senator)|Dan Sullivan]], Alaska
| {{party shading/Democratic}} valign=top |
* [[Tom Carper]], Delaware, ''Ranking Member''
* [[Ben Cardin]], Maryland
* <span {{party shading/Independent}}>[[Bernie Sanders]], Vermont<ref name="Sanders" /></span>
* [[Sheldon Whitehouse]], Rhode Island
* [[Jeff Merkley]], Oregon
* [[Kirsten Gillibrand]], New York
* [[Cory Booker]], New Jersey
* [[Ed Markey]], Massachusetts
* [[Tammy Duckworth]], Illinois
* [[Chris Van Hollen]], Maryland
|}

===114th Congress===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Majority
! Minority
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} valign=top |
* [[Jim Inhofe]], Oklahoma, ''Chair''
* [[David Vitter]], Louisiana
* [[John Barrasso]], Wyoming
* [[Shelley Moore Capito]], West Virginia
* [[Mike Crapo]], Idaho
* [[John Boozman]], Arkansas
* [[Jeff Sessions]], Alabama
* [[Roger Wicker]], Mississippi
* [[Deb Fischer]], Nebraska
* [[Mike Rounds]], South Dakota
* [[Dan Sullivan (U.S. Senator)|Dan Sullivan]], Alaska
| {{party shading/Democratic}} valign=top |
* [[Barbara Boxer]], California, ''Ranking Member''
* [[Tom Carper]], Delaware
* [[Ben Cardin]], Maryland
* <span {{party shading/Independent}}>[[Bernie Sanders]], Vermont<ref name="Sanders" /></span>
* [[Sheldon Whitehouse]], Rhode Island
* [[Jeff Merkley]], Oregon
* [[Kirsten Gillibrand]], New York
* [[Cory Booker]], New Jersey
* [[Ed Markey]], Massachusetts
|}

Source: {{USCongRec|2013|S296}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://epw.senate.gov/ U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works official website] ([https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwa00ssev00/ Archive])
*[https://www.congress.gov/committee/senate-environment-and-public-works/ssev00 Senate Environment and Public Works Committee]. Legislation activity and reports, [[Congress.gov]].
* [http://www.publicworksagency.com Public Works Agency] – Public Works Industry Social Network including Municipal Contractors, Municipalities and Citizen Engagement

{{United States congressional committees}}

[[Category:Committees of the United States Senate|Environment and Public Works]]
[[Category:Environment of the United States]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in the United States]]