I am interested in learning more about two Senate Committees. Could you give some background information on the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee? Warner Robins, GA - 7/31/00

The Senate Finance Committee has jurisdiction over taxes, trade policy, health care reform, as well as the largest segment of the budget -- entitlement programs, such as social security, Medicare and Medicaid. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee handles telecommunications law encompassing a huge array of industries from cable television, telephones, cellular phones, and the Internet. It also has jurisdiction over a broad array of diverse subjects such as aviation safety, organized sports, interstate commerce and transportation, science, space technology, and the maritime industry.

Senate Finance is chaired by Senator William Roth (R-DE), while the ranking minority Member is Senator Daniel Moynihan (D-NY). The Committee has five subcommittees: Health Care is chaired by Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX); International Trade is headed by Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA); the Subcommittee on Long-Term Growth, Debt and Deficit Reduction is chaired by Senator Connie Mack (R-FL); Social Security and Family Policy is headed by Senator John Chafee (R-RI); and Taxation and IRS Oversight is chaired by Senator Don Nickles (R-OK).

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation is chaired by Senator John McCain (R-AZ); the ranking Member is Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC). The Committee has seven subcommittees: Aviation, chaired by Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA); Consumer Affairs, Foreign Commerce, and Tourism, chaired by Senator John Ashcroft (R-MO); Communications, chaired by Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT); Manufacturing and Competitiveness, chaired by Senator Spencer Abraham (R-MI), Oceans and Fisheries, chaired by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME); Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine, chaired by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX); and Science, Technology, and Space, chaired by Senator William Frist (R-TN).

You can write or e-mail each Committee to request additional information and to see their complete jurisdiction lists. Senate Finance can be reached at 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510, or visit the Senate Finance Committee website.

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation is at 508 Dirksen Senate Office Building, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510, or you can visit the Senate Commerce Committee website.