Tom Lantos has compiled an enviable record of service to his constituents in San Mateo County and San Francisco and to the American people, and he holds a number of key positions in the Congress. He is the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the second ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He also holds a number of other key leadership positions.
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Tom is the Chairman and the senior Democratic member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and plays the key role in organizing and directing committee activities. The Foreign Affairs Committee has responsibility for all aspects of U.S. foreign policy and oversees the U.S. Department of State and other foreign policy agencies. It is responsible for foreign policy legislation, management of the Department of State, foreign assistance, trade promotion, export controls, foreign arms sales, student exchanges, international broadcasting and most other issues of our foreign relations.
Previously Tom was Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Security, International Organizations, and Human Rights (1993-1995), the Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights (1995-1999), and the Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific (1999-2001). He was the Ranking (lead) Democratic Member of the Committee (2001-2006).
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Tom is the second most senior Democratic member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which has jurisdiction over government accountability, efficiency and management of government activities, the Federal Civil Service, the District of Columbia, the National Archives, the census, the U.S. Postal Service, public information and government records, and reorganizations of the executive branch of the government.
Previously, Tom served as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Employment, Housing and Aviation (1987-1993), where he led major investigations into waste, fraud, abuses, favoritism, and mismanagement at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) during the Reagan administration and investigations into corporate violation of worker safety regulations. At the present time, Tom is a member of two key subcommittees: Domestic Policy, which has jurisdiction over issues relating to national energy production and distribution and the environment. This subcommittee also has oversight responsibility for the departments of Energy and Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency. National Security and Foreign Affairs, which has oversight responsibility for the activities of the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State, and Veterans' Affairs and related federal government agencies. The subcommittee also deals with oversight of anti-terrorism efforts, both foreign and domestic, and international trade.
Congressional Human Rights Caucus
The Congressional Human Rights Caucus was co-founded by Tom Lantos, and he has served as the Democratic co-chairman since its founding. The Caucus focuses bipartisan attention on individual civil and human rights violations, and foreign government actions or inaction on these issues. The Congressional Human Rights Caucus, which is open to participation by all Members of Congress, is the leading Congressional voice in defense of human rights.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council
Since 1989, the Speaker of the House has appointed Tom Lantos a Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. As the only survivor of the Holocaust ever elected to Congress, he brings a unique point of view to this position. The Council is responsible for the development of the Holocaust Memorial Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and for creating programs to honor victims of the Holocaust. It also has responsibility to call attention to current instances of genocide and conducts programs to encourage tolerance and respect for law.
Congressional Friends of Animals
Tom Lantos has been a leader in the Congress in dealing with animal welfare issues. He is the founder and co-chair of "Congressional Friends of Animals," an organization of members of Congress that provides a forum for cooperation on programs to encourage humane treatment of animals. After seeing a young boy refuse to leave his pet dog behind as he was being rescued during Hurricane Katrina, Tom authored and steered through Congress ground-breaking legislation requiring federal emergency management officials to provide emergency pet shelter, to encourage people to seek shelter in crisis situations. That legislation has received national recognition.
U.S. Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly
President Bill Clinton appointed Tom to serve as a member of the United States Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (1995-1996). He was one of only two members of Congress to represent our country in this position. He has been a leading voice for responsible American participation in the United Nations, and he has been a leading advocate of reform and reorganization of the United Nations in order for it to work more effectively. Tom led the effort to bring the U.S. back into full membership in UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.