The U.S. Congress is the bicameral (two-house) legislature of the United States government, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senators and representatives are chosen through direct election.

 

Environmental protection concerns span a wide variety of issues, including clean air, water quality, chemical security and environmental aspects of other areas, such as energy, transportation, disaster relief/cleanup and defense. Issues considered by Congress tend to fall into several major categories: funding issues — whether fund levels are adequate and/or focused on appropriate priorities; expanding, renewing or refocusing existing environmental policies or programs; environmental issues that are important elements of other major areas of concern (e.g., legislation concerning clean energy and transportation); and security concerns (such as terrorism and infrastructure protection).

(Source: The Library of Congress / Photo: uschools/iStockphoto)