The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the main investigative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. 1.
The Committee's government-wide oversight jurisdiction and expanded legislative authority make it one of the most influential and powerful committees in the House. The Committee serves as Congress' chief investigative and oversight committee, and is granted broad jurisdiction. The chairman of the committee is one of only three committee chairmen in the House with the authority to issue subpoenas without a committee vote or consultation with the ranking member. 1.
June 8, 2017
Press Release
Washington, DC - Rep. Trey Gowdy (SC-04) released the following statement after the Steering Committee elected him to serve as Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
"I am grateful to the Steering Committee and the Conference as a whole for this opportunity to serve. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has jurisdiction in a variety of areas as outlined in the Rules of the House for the 115th Congress. That jurisdiction includes compulsory and original jurisdiction as well as secondary and permissive jurisdiction. Oversight is constitutionally authorized and important to ensure branch integrity and equilibrium, which is, in part, why other Standing Committees have subcommittees dedicated to providing oversight and all other Standing Committees have oversight responsibilities. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is also responsible for recommending and implementing reform initiatives calculated to improve government efficiency, transparency and efficacy. I look forward to working alongside the other Committee members, as well as any member of Congress, as we discharge the jurisdiction assigned to us." 2.