United States House Committee On Ways and Means

United States House Committee On Ways And Means

The Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committees unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership. The Committee has jurisdiction over all taxation, tariffs and other revenue-raising measures, as well as a number of other programs including:

  • Social Security
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Medicare
  • Enforcement of child support laws
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federal welfare program
  • Foster care and adoption programs

The U.S. Constitution requires that all bills regarding taxation must originate in the House of Representatives. Since House procedure is that all bills regarding taxation must go through this committee, the committee is very influential, as is its Senate counterpart, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.

The Ways and Means Committee in the 111th Congress was chaired by Charlie Rangel, who had taken a leave of absence as chairman until House ethics violations were resolved. However, his leave of absence as chairman was ruled to be a resignation. Pete Stark resigned as acting chairman, so Sander Levin held that position until the start of the 112th Congress. Dave Camp became the committee chair for the 112th Congress, after the Republicans won control of the House in the 2010 election.

Read more about United States House Committee On Ways And Means:  History, Political Significance, Members, 112th Congress, Subcommittees, Chairmen

Famous quotes containing the words united states, united, states, house, committee, ways and/or means:

    Yesterday, December 7, 1941Ma date that will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
    Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)

    There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration.... The United States does not concede that those countries are under the domination of the Soviet Union.
    Gerald R. Ford (b. 1913)

    Courage, then, for the end draws near! A few more years of persistent, faithful work and the women of the United States will be recognized as the legal equals of men.
    Mary A. Livermore (1821–1905)

    If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.
    Winston Churchill (1874–1965)

    In America every woman has her set of girl-friends; some are cousins, the rest are gained at school. These form a permanent committee who sit on each other’s affairs, who “come out” together, marry and divorce together, and who end as those groups of bustling, heartless well-informed club-women who govern society. Against them the Couple of Ehepaar is helpless and Man in their eyes but a biological interlude.
    Cyril Connolly (1903–1974)

    After all, I do not have so many ways of proving that I am free. We is always free at the expense of someone else. It is a bother, but it is normal.
    Albert Camus (1913–1960)

    There are very few things impossible in themselves; and we do not want means to conquer difficulties so much as application and resolution in the use of means.
    François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)