Senate Congressional Committees

The Committee of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of all matters relating to the nation's agriculture industry, farming programs, forestry and logging and legislation relating to nutrition and health.

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs has jurisdiction over matters related to banks and banking, price controls, deposit insurance, export promotion and controls, federal monetary policy, financial aid to commerce and industry, issuance of redemption of notes, currency and coinage, public and private housing, urban development and mass transit and government contracts.

Senate Finance Committee

The Senate Finance Committee has jurisdiction over matters relating to the bonded debt of the United States; customs, collection districts, and ports of entry and delivery; deposit of public moneys; general revenue sharing; health programs under the Social Security Act (notably Medicare and Medicaid) and health programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund; national social security; reciprocal trade agreements; revenue measures generally and those relating to the insular possessions; tariff and import quotas, and related matters thereto; and the transportation of dutiable goods. The role of the Committee is very similar to that of the House Committee on Ways and Means with one very important difference: all revenue raising measures must originate in the House, giving the Ways and Means Committee slightly more influence in setting tax policy.

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) generally considers matters relating to health, education, labor and pensions. Its jurisdiction extends beyond these issues to include several more specific areas, as defined by Senate rules including, private pension plans, railway labor and retirement, regulation of foreign laborers, student loans, wages and hours of labor, including the federal minimum wage.

Senate Committee on the Judiciary

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary, one of the Senate's original standing committees, has one of the broadest jurisdictions in the Senate, ranging from criminal justice to antitrust and intellectual property law. The Judiciary Committee is also in charge of conducting hearings prior to the Congressional confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges and district court judges.