Since 1977 the chairman of the Interior Committee has been Representative Udall, the only member now serving who was on the committee in 1966 when the NHPA was passed. Jackson who died in 1983. At his death, Jackson was the last member of the committee who had served in 1966 when the NHPA was passed. Legislation sometimes gets referred to more than one committee. Both committees held hearings and took action on the bill before it went to the House floor.
Subcommittees are usually the first forum for consideration of legislation.
In the House, the Interior Committee's Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands has jurisdiction over archaeology and historic preservation. Seiberling's subcommittee had jurisdiction over such legislation from 1981 through 1986. In the Senate, the Energy Committee's Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks and Forests has jurisdiction over preservation legislation. Bills normally receive their most thorough consideration by subcommittees. Usually at that level hearings are held to give witnesses a chance to express their views.