United States House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is a select committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. It was established March 8, 2007 through adoption of a resolution by a 269–150 vote of the full House. As a select committee, it will cease to operate at the end of the current 110th Congress.

Controversy

Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced plans to create the select committee on January 18, 2007, which immediately drew objections from many House Republicans as well as some House Democrats, particularly Chairman John Dingell of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over environmental and climate change issues and Chairman Charles Rangel of the Ways and Means Committee. Pelosi was able to reach a compromise with Chairman Dingell, wherein the committee will be advisory in nature, without the legislative authority granted to standing committees. Several Republican leaders, including Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Joe Barton continue to object to the committee calling it a "platform for some members to grandstand."

The committee also is controversial because it received funding at the expense of the House Ethics Committee.

Jurisidiction

The Select committee will conduct hearings on energy independence and climate change issues. The committee lacks the authority to draft legislation, but will work with the House standing committees with jurisdiction over climate change issues and develop recommendations on legislative proposals. Speaker Pelosi has indicated she would like committees with jurisdiction over energy, environment and technology policy to report legislation on these issues to the full House by July 4, 2007.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/