The Congressional Committee Map

Several congressional committees have oversight over U.S. foreign assistance, some with overarching jurisdiction and some with program specific jurisdiction. Congress also established dozens of member caucuses to develop policy or raise awareness on specific issues, including, the Effective Foreign Assistance Caucus, the Hunger Caucus, the International Basic Education Caucus and the Tuberculosis Elimination Caucus, as well as, several regional or country specific caucuses.

United States Senate

Senate Committee on Appropriations: The Senate Appropriations Committee and its 12 subcommittees are responsible for legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. Appropriations are generally limited to the levels set by the budget resolution, drafted by the Senate Committee on the Budget. Each subcommittee is responsible for reviewing the President’s budget request, hearing testimony from officials, and drafting spending plans for the coming fiscal year.

• Key Subcommittee:
  • State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs): SFOPs has jurisdiction over agencies relating to DoS and other foreign policy spending initiatives. These include DoS, USAID, peacekeeping operations, poverty-focused and humanitarian assistance accounts, and global health programs.

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and its seven subcommittees are responsible for developing and influencing U.S. foreign policy. The committee holds jurisdiction over treaties, diplomatic nominations, and other foreign policy legislation, shaping U.S. foreign policy. Specifically, the committee is responsible for overseeing (but not administering) foreign aid programs as well as arms sales; training for national allies and multilateral banks; and reviewing matters relating to U.S. national security policy, foreign policy, and international economic policy.

• Subcommittees:
  • Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism
  • Europe and Regional Security Cooperation
  • Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues
  • Africa and Global Health Policy
  • East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy
  • Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic Energy and Environmental Policy
  • DoS and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development

Senate Committee on Budget: The Budget Committee, created by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, is responsible for drafting plans for Congress and monitoring and enforcing rules surrounding spending, revenue, and the federal budget. The committee’s principal responsibility is to develop a concurrent resolution on the budget to serve as the framework for congressional action on spending, revenue, and its debt-limit legislation.

United States House of Representatives

House Committee on Appropriations: The House Appropriations Committee and 12 subcommittees are responsible for legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. Appropriations are generally limited to the levels set by the House Committee on the Budget’s draft budget resolution. Each subcommittee is responsible for reviewing the President’s budget request, hearing testimony from officials, and drafting spending plans for the coming fiscal year.

• Key Subcommittee:
  • State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs): SFOPs has jurisdiction over agencies relating to DoS and other foreign policy spending initiatives. These include DoS, USAID, peacekeeping operations, poverty-focused and humanitarian assistance accounts, and global health programs.

House Foreign Affairs Committee: The House Foreign Affairs Committee and its six subcommittees are responsible for developing and influencing U.S. foreign policy. The committee holds jurisdiction over foreign policy legislation. Specifically, the committee is responsible for overseeing (but not administering) foreign aid programs as well as arms sales; training for national allies and multilateral banks; and reviewing matters relating to U.S. national security policy, foreign policy, and international economic policy.

• Subcommittees:
  • Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
  • Asia and the Pacific
  • Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats
  • Middle East and North Africa
  • Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
  • Western Hemisphere

House Committee on the Budget: The Budget Committee, created by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, is responsible for drafting plans for Congress and monitoring and enforcing rules surrounding spending, revenue, and the federal budget. The committee’s principal responsibility is to develop a concurrent resolution on the budget to serve as the framework for congressional action on spending, revenue, and its debt-limit legislation.