Before a bill can become a law, it is assigned to a committee to study its merits. The Senate has 16 Standing committees:
- Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
- Appropriations
- Armed Services
- Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
- Budget
- Commerce, Science and Transportation
- Energy and Natural Resources
- Environment and Public Works
- Finance
- Foreign Relations
- Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
- Homeland Security and Government Affairs
- Judiciary
- Rules and Administration
- Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- Veterans' Affairs
Most committees have multiple subcommittees under them. Four committees have no subcommittees; Budget, Rules and Administration, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Veterans' Affairs.
Future enhancements will add separate links for each committee to connect to a page with detailed information on the committee's function, membership, and activities. The planned enhancements will include similar information on subcommittees, select committees, special committees, and joint committees.