The creation of the committee was criticized by House Republicans , who argued " that the committee was unnecessary or that its budget could be used better by the ethics committee . " The proposal to create the committee also encountered some skepticism from House Democrats , particularly Chairman John Dingell of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee ( which has primary jurisdiction over environmental and climate change issues ) and Chairman Charles Rangel of the Ways and Means Committee ( which has jurisdiction on any tax legislation aimed at affecting industry behavior ) . Ultimately , Pelosi was able to reach a compromise with Dingell , wherein the committee was to be advisory in nature , without the legislative authority granted to standing committees . Joe Barton , the ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee , continued to object to the committee 's existence , calling it a " platform for some members to grandstand . " The committee held 80 hearings and briefings , on topics ranging from climate science to the '' Deepwater Horizon '' explosion and subsequent oil spill
subsequent oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
United States House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming