Jurisdiction

The Committee concerns itself with matters relating to: taxation and other revenue measures generally, and those relating to the insular possessions; bonded debt of the United States; customs, collection districts, and ports of entry and delivery; reciprocal trade agreements; tariff and import quotas, and related matters thereto; the transportation of dutiable goods; deposit of public moneys; general revenue sharing; health programs under the Social Security Act, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other health and human services programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund; and national social security.

EXCERPT FROM RULE XXV OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE

1. The following standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of each Congress, and shall continue and have the power to act until their successors are appointed, with leave to report by bill or otherwise on matters within their respective jurisdictions:


(i) Committee on Finance, to which committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects:

  1. Bonded debt of the United States, except as provided in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
  2. Customs, collection districts, and ports of entry and delivery.
  3. Deposit of public moneys.
  4. General revenue sharing.
  5. Health programs under the Social Security Act and health programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund.
  6. National social security.
  7. Reciprocal trade agreements.
  8. Revenue measures generally, except as provided in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
  9. Revenue measures relating to the insular possessions.
  10. Tariffs and import quotas, and matters related thereto.
  11. Transportation of dutiable goods.

Senate Finance Committee
Department and Agency Jurisdiction

The Senate Finance Committee’s jurisdiction is defined by subject matter – not by agency or Department.  As a consequence of the Committee’s broad subject matter jurisdiction, the Finance Committee has sole or shared jurisdiction over the activities of numerous agencies and offices.

Executive Office of the President

  • Office of the United States Trade Representative
    [Leads international trade negotiations; advises and coordinates trade policy; enforces trade agreements]

Department of Agriculture

  • Foreign Agriculture Service (w/Agriculture Committee)
    [Foreign barriers to U.S. agriculture goods]
  • Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers (lead by FAS but involves numerous USDA departments) 

Department of Commerce

  • International Trade Administration
    [Administration of antidumping and countervailing duty laws; compliance with international trade agreements]
  • Under Secretary of International Trade Administration (w/Banking Committee)
  • Assistant Secretary for Import Administration
  • Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance
  • Economic Development Administration (w/Environment and Public Works Committee)
    [Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms; Trade Adjustment Assistance for Communities]
  • Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services

Department of Health and Human Services

  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
    [Medicare Parts A & B; Medicare Advantage (Part C); Medicare Drug Benefit (Part D); Medicaid; Children’s Health Insurance Program]
  • Administration for Children and Families (w/Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee)
    [TANF; Child Welfare Services; Child Support & Paternity; JOBS program; Foster Care & Adoption Assistance; Maternal & Child Health Title XX Social Services Block Grant Program; Child Care and Development Block Grant; Independent Living Program; Promoting Safe and Stable Families]
    [Title XI of the Social Security Act, demonstration authority, peer review of the utilization and quality of health care services, and administrative simplification]
  • Inspector General

Department of Homeland Security

The following functions performed by any employee of the Department of Homeland Security:

  • Any customs revenue function including any function provided for in section 415 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296);
  • Any commercial function or commercial operation of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection or Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including matters relating to trade facilitation and trade regulation; or
  • Any other function related to the above items that were exercised by the United States Customs Service on the day before the effective date of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.  (Public Law 107-296)
  • Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Department of Labor

  • Employment and Training Administration (w/Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee)
    [Unemployment Compensation; Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers]
  • Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration [ERISA] (w/Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Foreign Relations Committee)
    [Formulating and implementing international trade policy]
  • International Labor Affairs Bureau
  • Unemployment Insurance

Department of the Treasury

  • Internal Revenue Service
  • Bureau of the Public Debt
  • Any customs, tariff, or revenue function not delegated to the Department of Homeland Security through the delegation authority provided by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296)
  • Assistant Secretary for International Affairs [Formulating and implementing international trade policy]
  • Under Secretary for International Affairs
  • Financial Management Service (w/Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee)
  • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (w/Judiciary Committee)
    [In relation to revenues]
  • Undersecretary for Enforcement
    [Matters involving financial crimes, including terrorist financing]
  • Assistant Secretary for Enforcement
    [Matters involving financial crimes, including terrorist financing]
  • Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes
    [Matters involving financial crimes, including terrorist financing; enforces sanctions]
  • ERISA group health plans
    [HIPAA, COBRA, Consumer Protections]
    (With Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee)
  • Taxpayer Advocate
  • Inspector General
  • Inspector General for Tax Administration

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
(w/Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee)
[Guarantees payment of non-forfeitable pension benefits in covered private sector defined benefit pension plans; title IV of ERISA]

  • TAA program for workers

Social Security Administration (SSA)

  • Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
    [Provides monthly cash benefits to eligible beneficiaries]
  • Inspector General

Railroad Retirement Board

  • Railroad Retirement

United States International Trade Commission
[Furnishes studies/recommendations on numerous trade issues to the President and Congress, may order certain remedial actions in response to trade violation

U.S. Tax Court

Also numerous boards, commissions, and advisors committees including:

  • Prospective Payment Assessment Commission;
  • Physician Payment Review Commission;
  • Advisory Committee for Trade Policy, Negotiations and Industry;
  • Trade and Environmental Policy Advisory Committee;
  • Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee;
  • Labor Advisory Committee;
  • Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee;
  • Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade
  • Congressional – Executive Commission on China;
  • Social Security Advisory Board;
  • National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust; and
  • Industry Trade Advisory Committees.

Affiliated
Committees and
Advisory Boards

Joint Committee on Taxation

Senate Members
Ron Wyden, OR, Vice Chairman
Debbie Stabenow, MI
Maria Cantwell, WA
Mike Crapo, ID
Chuck Grassley, IA


House Members
Jason Smith, MO, Chairman
Adrian Smith, NE
Vern Buchanan, FL
Richard Neal, MA
Lloyd Doggett, TX


Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations

Senate Members
Ron Wyden, OR
Michael F. Bennet, CO
Bob Casey, PA
Mike Crapo, ID
Chuck Grassley, IA


Congressional Advisors on Trade Policy and Negotiations

Senate Members
Ron Wyden, OR
Debbie Stabenow, MI
Maria Cantwell, WA
Mike Crapo, ID
Chuck Grassley, IA