Their choices, in consultation with their committee colleagues, of which bills to process through their committees once again help define the legislative agenda for the House floor. Committee chairmen are as powerful as their colleagues on the committee permit. Although not always the case, most chairmen these days consult often and closely with the other members on the committee to assure themselves of a consensus before they take action. Authority to decide how the committee's budget will be allocated. The advantage of extra staff and office space which come with a chairmanship.
Extra staff means an expanded ability to initiate projects and respond to events.
The authority to name conferees, drawn from the committee's membership. A conference is the last stage of the legislative process and all Members value the opportunity to be at the table as the important final decisions are being made about a bill's provisions. The ability to garner press attention as the primary spokesman for the committee on a variety of issues under the committee's jurisdiction. Most reporters will seek a response on those issues from the committee's chairman before they turn to other Members. The collegial leverage of cosponsoring bills introduced by fellow Members, especially those that fall under the committee's jurisdiction.