Committee Assignments
Senator John McCain is Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services; Member and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
The Senate Committee on Armed Services is composed of 25 Senators. This Committee has jurisdiction for aeronautical and space activities peculiar to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems or military operations; the common defense; the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force, generally; maintenance and operation of the Panama Canal, including administration, sanitation, and government of the Canal Zone; military research and development; national security aspects of nuclear energy; naval petroleum reserves, except those in Alaska; pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and privileges of members of the Armed Forces, including overseas education of civilian and military dependents; selective service system; and strategic and critical materials necessary for the common defense.
Senator McCain is currently the Ranking Member.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs was formed in 1977 and currently has 15 members. This Committee has jurisdiction to study the unique problems of American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples and to propose legislation to alleviate these difficulties. These issues include, but are not limited to, Indian education, economic development, land management, trust responsibilities, health care, and claims against the United States. Additionally, all legislation proposed by Members of the Senate that specifically pertains to American Indians, Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives is under the jurisdiction of the Committee.
Senator McCain served as Chairman of the Committee from 2005 to 2006.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources was formed in 1977 and consists of 21 members. This Committee has jurisdiction over areas of energy, resources and development, including regulation, conservation, strategic petroleum reserves and appliance standards; nuclear energy; Indian affairs; public lands and their renewable resources; surface mining, Federal coal, oil, and gas, other mineral leasing territories and insular possessions; and water resources.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was formed in 1999 and is comprised of 22 Members. This Committee has jurisdiction for measures relating to education, labor, health, and public welfare. Specifically the Committee targets matters regarding aging, individuals with disabilities, public health, domestic activities of the American Red Cross, and biomedical research and development; Galluadet University, Howard University, and Saint Elizabeth Hospital; labor statistics and labor standards; the regulation of railway laborers, foreign laborers, and miners; child labor; convict labor and the entry of goods made by convicts into interstate commerce; the mediation and arbitration of labor disputes; equal employment opportunity; private pensions; arts and humanities; agricultural colleges; and student loans.
In The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs was renamed as the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in 2005 and possesses 15 members. This committee has jurisdiction for matters pertaining to homeland security, including the 9-11 Commission; the District of Columbia; government management, including E-Government, lobbying and ethics, federal contracts, and federal nominations; corporate management; environmental oversight; energy; health and public safety; civil service; and the Postal Service.