Walden to Chair Key Congressional Committee

The House GOP Steering Committee elected U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) to serve as the next chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Walden released the following statement:

“I am deeply honored to earn the support of my colleagues to chair this incredibly important committee. Americans are looking for big improvements out of Washington, and that’s just what we’re going to give them as we work with the Trump Administration, the Senate, and the governors, to move forward on the Better Way agenda. Our work will focus on what’s best for consumers, on creating better paying jobs and providing patient-centered health care.

“I commend my friends and fellow committee members, former Chairman Joe Barton and Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus, for stepping forward to compete for this chairmanship. They are talented legislators and leaders to whom I will turn for help as we embark on our legislative work. I also want to thank outgoing Chairman Fred Upton who proved again yesterday with overwhelming passage of the 21st Century Cures legislation, that our committee does great, bipartisan work for the American people,” said Walden.

Walden said he and other committee chairs will not make subcommittee chairmanship decisions until after the Steering Committee finalizes committee rosters in early January.