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 resource conservation and 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; Construction and maintenance of highways; Environmental aspects of Outer Continental Shelf lands; Environmental effects of toxic substances, other than pesticides; Environmental policy; Environmental research and development; Fisheries and wildlife; Flood control and improvements of rivers and harbors, including environmental aspects of deepwater ports; Noise pollution; Nonmilitary environmental regulation and control of nuclear energy; Ocean dumping; Public buildings and improved grounds of the United States generally, including federal buildings in the District of Columbia; Public works, bridges, and dams; Regional economic development; Solid waste disposal and recycling; Water pollution; and, Water resources. 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 utilization and conservation, and report thereon from time to time."
Members, 119th Congress Majority, , (119th Congress)Minority (119th Congress)Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia, Chair Kevin Cramer, North Dakota Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming John Curtis, Utah Lindsey Graham, South Carolina (until July 11, 2026) Dan Sullivan, Alaska Pete Ricketts, Nebraska Roger Wicker, Mississippi John Boozman, Arkansas Jon Husted, Ohio Darline Graham, South Carolina (from July 21, 2026)Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island, Ranking Member Bernie Sanders, VermontBernie Sanders is an Independent, but caucuses with Democrats on the committee. Jeff Merkley, Oregon Ed Markey, Massachusetts Mark Kelly, Arizona Alex Padilla, California Adam Schiff, California Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland
Subcommittees SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberClean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and SafetyCynthia Lummis (R-WY)Mark Kelly (D-AZ)Fisheries, Wildlife, and WaterPete Ricketts (R-NE)Adam Schiff (D-CA)Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory OversightJohn Curtis (R-UT)Jeff Merkley (D-OR)Transportation and InfrastructureKevin Cramer (R-ND)Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Chairs The committee has gone through several iterations starting in 1838. A list of these chairs is below.
Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings, 1819–1821 NamePartyStateStartEndDemocratic-RepublicanPA18191821
Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings, 1838–1857 NamePartyStateStartEndDemocraticAR18381841WhigLA1841WhigMD18411842WhigNJ18421843DemocraticIL18431845DemocraticPA18451846DemocraticIN18461847DemocraticVA18471851DemocraticIN18511852DemocraticRI18521853DemocraticDE18531857
Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, 1857–1883 NamePartyStateStartEndDemocraticIN18571861RepublicanVT18611866RepublicanMO18661867RepublicanME18671869RepublicanVT18691878RepublicanMA18781879DemocraticFL18791881RepublicanNH18831881
Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, 1883–1947 NamePartyStateStartEndReadjuster RepublicanVA18831887RepublicanCA18871893DemocraticMO18931895RepublicanPA18951899RepublicanIN18991905RepublicanWY1905RepublicanWV19051911RepublicanUT19111913DemocraticVA19131918DemocraticMO19181919RepublicanME19191926RepublicanWI19261927RepublicanNH19271933DemocraticTX19331942DemocraticCT19421945DemocraticFL19451946
Chairs of the Senate Committee on Public Works, 1947–1977 NamePartyStateStartEndRepublicanWV19471949DemocraticNM19491953RepublicanPA19531955DemocraticNM19551962DemocraticMI19621966DemocraticWV19661967
Chairs of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 1977–present NamePartyStateStartEndDemocraticWV19771981RepublicanVT19811987DemocraticND19871992DemocraticNY19921993DemocraticMT19931995RepublicanRI19951999RepublicanNH19992001DemocraticNV2001RepublicanNH2001IndependentJeffords crossed the floor to caucus with the Senate Democratic Caucus.VT20012003RepublicanOK20032007DemocraticCA20072015RepublicanOK20152017RepublicanWY20172021DemocraticDE20212025RepublicanWV2025present
Ranking Members A list of ranking members is below.
NamePartyStateStartEndWhigRI18191821WhigDE18371839WhigMD18391841DemocraticAR18411842DemocraticGA18421843WhigNJ18431847WhigDE18471849WhigRI18491853WhigNC18531855WhigMD18551857RepublicanNH18571861DemocraticIN18611862DemocraticMO18621863DemocraticDE1863DemocraticMO18631864DemocraticIN18641865RepublicanMO18651866RepublicanIL18661867DemocraticMD18671869DemocraticNJ18691875DemocraticTN18751877DemocraticDE18771879RepublicanMA18791881DemocraticFL18811887DemocraticMO18871893RepublicanVT18931895DemocraticMO18951903DemocraticTX19031913RepublicanUT19131917RepublicanWY19171919DemocraticMO19191929DemocraticAZ19291933RepublicanNH19331937RepublicanVT19371938RepublicanME19381941RepublicanNJ19411943RepublicanOH19431947DemocraticLA19471948DemocraticNM19481949RepublicanWA19491953DemocraticNM19531955RepublicanPA19551959RepublicanSD19591962RepublicanKY19621973RepublicanTN19731975RepublicanNY19751977RepublicanVT19771981DemocraticWV19811985DemocraticTX19851987RepublicanVT19871989RepublicanRI19891995DemocraticMT19952001DemocraticNV2001RepublicanNH20012003IndependentJeffords crossed the floor to caucus with the Senate Democratic Caucus.VT20032007RepublicanOK20072013RepublicanLA20132015DemocraticCA20152017DemocraticDE20172021RepublicanWV20212025DemocraticRI2025present
Historical committee rosters 118th Congress Majority (118th Congress)Minority (118th Congress)Tom Carper, Delaware, Chair Ben Cardin, Maryland Bernie Sanders, Vermont Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Jeff Merkley, Oregon Ed Markey, Massachusetts Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Mark Kelly, Arizona Alex Padilla, California John Fetterman, PennsylvaniaShelley 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, Alaska Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
Subcommittee SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberChemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory OversightJeff Merkley (D-OR)Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear SafetyEd Markey (D-MA)Pete Ricketts (R-NE)Fisheries, Water, and WildlifeAlex Padilla (D-CA)Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)Transportation and InfrastructureMark Kelly (D-AZ)Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
117th Congress MajorityMinorityTom Carper, Delaware, Chair Ben Cardin, Maryland Bernie Sanders, Vermont Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Jeff Merkley, Oregon Ed Markey, Massachusetts Tammy Duckworth, Illinois Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Mark Kelly, Arizona Alex Padilla, CaliforniaShelley 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, Alaska Joni Ernst, Iowa Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
Subcommittees SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberChemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory OversightJeff Merkley (D-OR)Roger Wicker (R-MS)Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear SafetyEd Markey (D-MA)Jim Inhofe (R-OK)Fisheries, Water, and WildlifeTammy Duckworth (D-IL)Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)Transportation and InfrastructureBen Cardin (D-MD)Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
116th Congress MajorityMinorityJohn Barrasso, Wyoming, Chair 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, Alaska Kevin Cramer, North Dakota Mike Braun, IndianaTom Carper, Delaware, Ranking Member Ben Cardin, Maryland Bernie Sanders, Vermont 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 SubcommitteeChairRanking MemberClean Air and Nuclear SafetyMike Braun (R-IN)Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)Fisheries, Water and WildlifeKevin Cramer (R-ND)Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory OversightMike Rounds (R-SD)Cory Booker (D-NJ)Transportation and InfrastructureShelley Moore Capito (R-WV)Ben Cardin (D-MD)
115th Congress MajorityMinority John Barrasso, Wyoming, Chair 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, AlaskaTom Carper, Delaware, Ranking Member Ben Cardin, Maryland Bernie Sanders, Vermont 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 MajorityMinorityJim 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, AlaskaBarbara Boxer, California, Ranking Member Tom Carper, Delaware Ben Cardin, Maryland Bernie Sanders, Vermont Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Jeff Merkley, Oregon Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Cory Booker, New Jersey Ed Markey, Massachusetts
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References
External links U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works official website (Archive) Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov. Public Works Agency – Public Works Industry Social Network including Municipal Contractors, Municipalities and Citizen Engagement