Congressman Alan Lowenthal has selected to sit on several key subcommittees on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (HFAC) and the House Committee on Natural Resources (HNRC).
While members of Congress are appointed by their party leaders to sit on full committees such as Foreign Affairs or Natural Resources, subcommittees are selected by the individual members.
Congressman Lowenthal was named to HFAC on Dec. 20, 2012 and to the HNRC on Jan. 4.
The Foreign Affairs committee is responsible for oversight and legislation relating to national security; strategic planning and agreements; war powers, treaties and executive agreements; the deployment and use of the United States Armed Forces; international law; and arms control.
The House Committee on Natural Resources considers legislation about American energy production, mineral lands and mining, fisheries and wildlife, public lands including national parks, oceans, Native Americans, irrigation, federal water power, and reclamation.
The Congressman’s subcommittee assignments on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs are Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade (STNT), as well as Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats (SEEET).
The Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
The STNT has oversight and legislative responsibilities over US policy and programs to combat terrorism as coordinated by the Department of State and other agencies, and efforts to bring international terrorists to justice. It also has oversight of, and legislation pertaining to, nonproliferation matters involving nuclear, chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction. It additionally has oversight of matters relating to international economic and trade policy; commerce with foreign countries; international investment policy; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Trade and Development Agency; commodity agreements; special oversight of international financial and monetary institutions; and the Export-Import Bank, and customs.
The Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats
The SEEET reviews U.S. relations with European countries, with an emphasis on the European Union and NATO, including potential membership of the Western Balkan nations in those institutions. The Committee also conducts oversight of U.S. policy in Central Asia, including as it relates to the 2014 transition in Afghanistan. In addition to its regional jurisdiction the SEEET has oversight jurisdiction related to emerging foreign threats to the national security and interests of the United States.
Congressman Lowenthal’s subcommittee assignments on the House Natural Resources Committee are Energy and Mineral Resources and Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs (SFWOIA).
The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
This subcommittee oversees America's mineral and energy resources on public lands, to ensure that they are developed in a safe and equitable manner and that U.S. taxpayers are properly compensated for their use. This includes jurisdiction over the permitting and leasing of coal, petroleum, natural gas, and renewable resources on public lands, including Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas resources; Alaskan petroleum product transportation and access to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; the U.S. Geological Survey; national geothermal resources; conservation of the national uranium and radium supplies; and hard-rock mining interests, including leasing, regulation and enforcement.
The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs
The role of this subcommittee is to ensure that our national fisheries continue to support our economic and societal well-being for generations to come. In addition, the subcommittee has jurisdiction over all matters related to Antarctica; wildlife resources, including research, restoration, refuges and conservation; all matters pertaining to the protection of coastal and marine environments, including estuarine protection; coastal barriers; oceanography; ocean engineering, including materials, technology and systems; coastal zone management; and marine sanctuaries.
Lowenthal, who was sworn in Jan. 3 as a freshman member of the 113th Congress, is a former California State Senator, California State Assembly member, Long Beach City Council member, and long-time professor of Community Psychology at California State University Long Beach.
