WASHINGTON –U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. has received his committee assignments for the upcoming 114th Congress, including a new appointment to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC). HSGAC has jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security, the agency responsible for allocating disaster and emergency relief funding, and is the principal oversight committee of the federal government.
Sen. Booker will also continue to serve on the Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation , Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
“I am excited to continue my service as a member of the Commerce, Environment and Public Works, and Small Business committees, and to join Homeland Security, which touches so many issues of critical importance to New Jerseyans," Sen. Booker said. “This committee's work is vital to the progress of our state as we continue our efforts to recover from Hurricane Sandy, protect our residents from terrorism and natural disasters, and build a more efficient and effective government.”
“It has been an honor serving on the Commerce, EPW, and Small Business Committees in the 113th Congress and I look forward to using my role on these committees to continue supporting New Jersey’s small business owners, preserve our natural resources, and advocate for further investments in our nation’s and state’s transportation infrastructure,” Sen. Booker added.
The is the Senate’s primary oversight committee with broad jurisdiction over government operations generally and the Department of Homeland Security in particular. Its primary responsibilities are to study the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of all agencies and departments of the federal government; evaluate the effects of laws enacted to reorganize the legislative and executive branches of government; and study the intergovernmental relationships between the U.S. and states and municipalities, and between the U.S. and international organizations of which the U.S. is a member.
The Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) studies and reviews, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to environmental protection and resource utilization and conservation dealing with waste, water and noise pollution, highway construction and repair, environmental aspects of the continental shelf, flood control, deepwater parts, and toxic substances other than pesticides and fisheries.
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is composed of seven subcommittees, which together oversee the vast range of issues under its jurisdiction. These issues range from communications, highways, aviation, rail, shipping, transportation security, merchant marine, the Coast Guard, oceans, fisheries, climate change, disasters, science, space, interstate commerce, tourism, consumer issues, economic development, technology, competitiveness, product safety, and insurance.
The Senate Small Business Committee deals primarily with matters related to the Small Business Administration, and also is generally responsible for studying problems of American small business enterprises, and report thereon.