Committees and Caucuses

COMMITTEES

House Armed Services Committee (HASC)

Rep. Whitesides is a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), where he works to support the military installations vital to national security, including those in California’s 27th District. His role on this committee allows him to advocate for the men and women serving the Air Force 412th Test Wing, Edwards Air Force Base, Skunk Works, United States Air Force Plant 42, and other defense-related facilities.

Subcommittees:

• Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee
  Rep. Whitesides focuses on the importance of cutting-edge technology and cybersecurity in maintaining national defense superiority, especially in areas like aerospace innovation and defense technologies.
• Strategic Forces Subcommittee
  On this subcommittee, Rep. Whitesides advocates for strategic defense and space initiatives, including missile defense systems, hypersonics and nuclear deterrence policies, to ensure the nation’s security and global competitiveness.
• Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee
  As a member of this subcommittee, Rep. Whitesides works on matters related to naval power and the projection of military force, including the B-21 bomber, which is built at Plant 42.

Rep. Whitesides is honored to be the only Democratic member selected to serve on three important subcommittees, reflecting his deep commitment to national security and the interests of California's military and aerospace industries.

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee

Rep. Whitesides serves as the Vice Ranking member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, bringing his extensive experience in science and aerospace to Congress. Having served as the Chief of Staff of NASA, the CEO of a prominent aerospace company, and the Executive Director of the National Space Society, he brings a unique perspective to committee work. 

Furthermore, Rep. Whitesides sat on advisory committees for leading research universities like Caltech and Princeton, allowing him to understand the intersection of research and innovation as crucial elements to America’s future competitiveness. 

Subcommittee:

• Space and Aeronautics

As a member of the Space and Aeronautics subcommittee, Rep. Whitesides evaluates all matters relating to astronautical and aeronautical research and development; national space policy; space commercialization; exploration and use of outer space; international space cooperation; the National Space Council; space applications; Earth remote sensing policy; civil aviation including unmanned aerial systems, research, development, and demonstration; research, development, and demonstration programs of the Federal Aviation Administration; and space law.

As the founder of non-profit and venture organizations focused on the wildfire crisis, Rep. Whitesides has experience evaluating and addressing the intersection between climate change and natural disasters. As an entrepreneur, he is firmly committed to maintaining American leadership in innovation and its accompanying job creation engine.

CAUCUSES

Military Veterans Caucus

The Military Veterans Caucus is made up of Members who served or currently serve in our nation’s military defense and all Members who feel a special commitment to our country’s defenders, past and present. The bipartisan Military Veterans Caucus focuses on a wide variety of issues that concern America's veterans, military retirees and active-duty personnel, as well as issues pertaining to U.S. national security.

New Democratic Coalition

The New Democrat Coalition is made up of more than 110 pragmatic House Democrats who work across the aisle and across the Capitol to advance innovative and  job-growing policies. Representing more than half of the Democratic Caucus, New Dems are united behind a mission to build an economy that works for every American.

New Dems work to bridge the partisan divide with a solutions-oriented approach to politics. The Coalition’s primary goal is to find workable solutions to the most pressing issues facing our nation — from ensuring every American has access to quality health care to increasing affordable housing in every community. New Dems have shown time and again how lawmakers can make real progress in Congress. 

Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus

The Wildfire Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress who focus on common sense forest management reform, wildland firefighter assistance, wildfire recovery efforts, and community hardening. Specifically, the group:

• Advocates for wildfire-related programs, including funding for disaster relief, prevention and mitigation;
• Shares federal relief programs and resources with communities before, during and after wildfire season; and
• Highlights balanced and bipartisan science-based wildfire management and mitigation proposals in Congress.

Defense Modernization Caucus

The House Defense Modernization Caucus works to advance the national security ecosystem through the integration and adoption of emergent technologies. The bipartisan caucus leads efforts to streamline and accelerate the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)’s Authority to Operate (ATO) process, expand rapid hire authority for DoD innovation engines, and increase access to classified space for startup and scaleup companies.

Reproductive Freedom Caucus

Since the 1990s, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, formerly Pro-Choice Caucus, has been a leading voice on a broad range of issues that come before the House of Representatives, including contraception, family planning, abortion, preventive health care services, international reproductive rights, access to health care clinics, and biomedical research. 

Congressional Dad’s Caucus

The Congressional Dads Caucus provides a forum for members of Congress to push legislation that supports working families. Founded soon after the Speaker vote in the 118th Congress, the Dads Caucus is fighting for policy solutions that help working families thrive and make America more affordable—including creating a national paid leave program, increasing access to affordable child care, and expanding the Child Tax Credit to ensure working parents have the resources they need to provide for their families. Learn more about the Dads Caucus here.

Fusion Energy Caucus

The Fusion Energy Caucus was founded to inform policymakers and staff about the field’s breakthroughs, research and increasing potential to transform the global energy sector. The caucus brings together experts from academia, government and the private sector to learn about the latest breakthroughs in fusion technology, develop bipartisan policy solutions, and support this budding power source.