House Appropriations Committee

Congressman Schiff was named to the House Appropriations Committee in the 110th Congress. The powerful Appropriations Committee is charged with funding many of the core functions of the federal government. 

Rep. Schiff sought a seat on the Appropriations Committee to ensure responsible stewardship and comprehensive oversight of the nation's expenditures.  He also requested membership on the committee so that Southern California would have fair representation on the panel given the important role the region plays in our nation’s economy, security, and infrastructure.

Congressman Schiff serves on the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, and the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.

The State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee plays a central role in the formation and execution of U.S. foreign policy. The subcommittee is responsible for reviewing and funding the U.S. international affairs budgets, including the U.S. Department of State, foreign military support programs through the Department of Defense, and most foreign aid. In this role, the subcommittee determines U.S. priorities in foreign policy.

The Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee budgets most expenditures for the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Justice, and science related agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  A major portion of the federal funding for the California Institute of Technology and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is allocated in the spending bill drafted each year by this Subcommittee. 

The Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee oversees the budgets of multiple agencies including the Treasury Department, the IRS; the FDIC; the District of Columbia; and the Judicial branch among others.

Prior to serving on the Appropriations Committee, Schiff was a member of the House International Relations Committee three terms. 

House Judiciary Committee

Congressman Schiff serves on the House Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction over the criminal justice system, constitutional matters, the judicial branch, terrorism and homeland security, technology, and antitrust.  As a member of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Schiff has pushed for strong oversight of the Department of Justice’s counterterrorism efforts to detect and prevent terrorist attacks without undue intrusions on privacy and civil liberties. 

Congressman Schiff serves on the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

House Select Intelligence Oversight Panel

In 2007, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) appointed Congressman Schiff to the new Select Intelligence Oversight Panel.  The panel was formed in response to the 9/11 Commission recommendations, which called for more comprehensive oversight of the intelligence agencies’ mission, capability, coordination and budget.

This new panel works under the jurisdiction of the House Appropriations Committee. However, it consists of thirteen Representatives from both the House Appropriations Committee and House Intelligence Committee – including the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Appropriations Committee and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.  Such a hybrid committee – with oversight of both authorizing and appropriating functions – may be unprecedented in the Congress and reflects the importance of its mission. 

The panel works with the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee on intelligence funding, with the goal of strengthening the collaboration between those with direct oversight of the intelligence agencies and those who control the funding.

Other House Committees; Other Member Assignments