In the 1980s and early 1990s, groups formed within the U.S. House of Representatives to pursue interest in a subject were called Legislative Service Organizations. In the later 1990s, LSOs went out of official existence altogether but continued informally as caucuses. Today, congressional caucuses are officially called Congressional Member Organizations and are cataloged by the Committee on House Administration, which discloses each CMO’s name and leadership. It is up to to the congressional leaders of each caucus to share more information about its members and meetings with the public… or not.

Listed below are the latest Congressional Member Organizations to sprout into recognized existence for the 112th Congress. The set of 19 you see below registered with the House Administration Committee between March 8 and March 18, 2011. As part of an ongoing effort to bring together information about these CMOs, we have done our best to locate congressional websites, websites constructed by outside sponsors, and membership lists for each caucus. Congressional caucuses keep this information close to the vest as often as not, as you can see below. Alas, there is no Congressional Transparency Caucus to aid us in this regard.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Caucus: congressional web page; member list; external webpage sponsored by the National Center for APEC

Congressional Air Medical Caucus: no website, no list of members

Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus: no congressional website; external website with member list sponsored by US Azeri Network

Congressional Bicameral High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Caucus: no website, no list of members

Congressional Boating Caucus: no congressional website; external website with member list sponsored by the National Marine Manufacturers Association

Congressional Caucus on Foster Care: no website, no list of members

Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues: congressional website; external website with member list sponsored by the American Hellenic Council of California

Congressional Defense Energy Security Caucus: no website, no list of members

Congressional Diabetes Caucus: website with list of members

Congressional Global Health Caucus: website with list of members

Congressional Invasive Species Caucus: no website, no list of members

Congressional Job Creators’ Caucus: no website, no list of members

Congressional Olympic and Paralympic Caucus: website with list of members

Congressional TRIO Caucus: website with list of members

Congressional Wounded to Work Caucus: no congressional website; external website sponsored by the Wounded to Work Caucus Institute

Friends of Australia Caucus: no website, no list of members

House National Service Caucus: website with list of members

House Oceans Caucus: website; no list of members

U.S. – Philippines Friendship Caucus: no website, no list of members