U.S. Senate Committee on Finance

Defined by RULE XXV OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance has standing jurisdiction over numerous government processes and agencies. In 2009, its most visible role is deciding the means by which health care reform will be funded, seeking solutions that are both technically sound by principles of healthcare economics, and politically acceptable.

Jurisdiction over functions

 * 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.

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.

[Medicare Parts A & B; Medicare Drug Benefit (Part D); Medicare Advantage (Part C); Medicaid; State Children Health Insurance Program] - Administration for Children and Families (w/ HELP 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]
 * Executive Office of the President
 * Office of the United States Trade Representative; Leads international trade negotiations; advises and coordinates trade policy]
 * U.S. Department of Agriculture
 * Foreign Agricultural Service (w/Agriculture Committee); Foreign barriers to U.S. agricultural goods]
 * TAA for Farmers [headed up by FAS but involves numerous USDA departments]
 * U.S. Department of Commerce
 * International Trade Administration: Administration of antidumping and countervailing duty laws; compliance with international trade agreements]
 * Under Secretary for International Trade Administration (w/Banking Committee)
 * Assistant Secretary for Import Administration
 * Assistant Secretary for Mark Access and Compliance
 * Economic Development Administration (w/ Environment and Public Works Committee) [Trade Adjustment Assistance to Firms]
 * Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services
 * U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
 * Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

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 was 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/HELP Committee) [Unemployment Compensation; Trade Adjustment Assistance for workers] - Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration [ERISA] (w/ HELP 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 (w/ Foreign Relations Committee) [Formulating and implementing international trade policy] - Under Secretary for International Affairs - Financial Management Service (w/ 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] - TAA health care tax credit [HCTC] - ERISA group health plans [HIPAA, COBRA, Consumer Protections] (w/ HELP Committee)

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) (w/ HELP 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] - Social Security 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 violations]

Also numerous boards, commissions, and advisory committees including: Prospective Payment Assessment Commission; Physician Payment Review Commission; Advisory Committee for Trade Policy, Negotiations and Industry; Trade and Environment 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 the Industry Trade Advisory Committees.