The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of all matters relating to the nation’s agriculture industry, farming programs, forestry and logging, and legislation relating to nutrition and health.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is one of twenty Senate committees tasked with conducting Senate business related to specialized areas of legislative interest. Although the Senate has a longstanding history of writing and passing legislation focusing on our nation’s banks, the Senate Banking Committee was not formally established until 1913, with Senator Robert Owen of Oklahoma, sponsor of the landmark Federal Reserve Act, as its first Chairman; since then, the Committee has undergone various transformations and reorganizations. Now known as the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to underscore the diversity of issues under its purview, the Committee plays an integral role in managing legislation that affects the lives of many Americans. These areas of jurisdiction include, but are not limited to: banking, insurance, financial markets, securities, housing, urban development and mass transit, international trade and finance, and economic policy.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Finance is one of the Senate’s most influential committees, with jurisdiction over a wide range of critical issues that affect the daily lives of Americans. The committee is charged with considering legislation and nominations related to taxation, customs and trade, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has jurisdiction to study the unique problems of American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples and to propose legislation to alleviate these difficulties. These issues include, but are not limited to, Indian education, economic development, land management, trust responsibilities, health care, and claims against the United States. All legislation proposed by Members of the Senate that specifically pertains to American Indians, Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives is under the jurisdiction of the Committee.
Senator Smith is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development. The subcommittee oversees all federal housing and transit programs. Sen. Smith understands the crucial importance of housing and transit to Minnesota’s rural, urban, and suburban communities, and the power of these federal programs to improve the lives of Minnesotans.
Senator Smith is the ranking member of the subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth. She is committed to fighting for smart, sustainable economic policies that create good-paying jobs, support small businesses, and strengthen the middle class. She will work to ensure federal investments are brought back to Minnesota to drive innovation, expand economic opportunity for working families, and build a more inclusive economy that benefits all Minnesotans.
The newly formed Subcommittee on Digital Assets will oversee the activities of digital asset issuers, platforms, and intermediaries, while also examining regulatory actions by federal agencies like the Department of Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the SEC. Senator Smith is committed to making sure that digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, are used safely, fairly, and transparently. She is particularly focused on protecting consumers from potential risks and preventing the use of digital assets for money laundering and other illicit activities.
This subcommittee oversees rural development loan and grant programs, renewable energy, and farm loan programs. Senator Smith is committed to strengthening rural communities by expanding economic opportunities, improving infrastructure, and increasing access to affordable energy. She will continue advocating for investments in rural broadband, housing, and childcare, as well as ensuring that farm loan programs provide critical support to Minnesota farmers.
This subcommittee oversees food and nutrition assistance, international food aid, school meal programs, horticulture, specialty crops, organic production, and agricultural research. Senator Smith believes all Minnesotans should have access to healthy, affordable food, and is dedicated to strengthening nutrition programs, and supporting local farmers. She will push for strong food assistance programs, research funding to help farmers innovate, and policies that promote sustainable agriculture.
This subcommittee oversees livestock, poultry, and dairy production, marketing, food safety, and security. Minnesota’s livestock, dairy, and poultry farmers are critical to the state’s economy, and Senator Smith is focused on ensuring they have the tools to succeed. She will advocate for fair markets, strong food safety standards, and policies that help producers navigate challenges like price volatility and disease outbreaks, while ensuring federal programs support Minnesota’s farmers.
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