WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee holds its formal organizational meeting for the 116th Congress. The meeting includes the adoption of Committee Rules, the formal appointment of subcommittee leadership and Member rosters, and adoption of the resolution setting forth subcommittee jurisdiction.
Republican Leader Greg Walden’s remarks as prepared for delivery
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First, I’d like to take a moment to welcome the gentleman from Montana, Greg Gianforte, as the newest Republican member at Energy and Commerce. With his background in computer science, electrical engineering, and technology, and as an entrepreneur and successful business owner, Greg is an excellent addition to the stellar Republican team here at E&C. Last Congress, I was humbled and honored to serve as Chairman of this committee. This truly is the best Committee on the Hill with the best Members.
While Republicans and Democrats certainly had policy disagreements and engaged in healthy debate last Congress, I’m proud that together we continued a strong Energy and Commerce tradition of producing bipartisan legislative solutions to the problems American families face.
Just in the last Congress, this committee held 180 hearings, furthering this committee’s reputation as a workhorse. Ninety-six percent of the bills reported out of this committee received bipartisan votes. And of the 148 Energy and Commerce committee bills that passed the House, 93 percent received bipartisan votes on the floor, and 57 E&C bills were signed into law.
We were able to work together to enact major legislative initiatives, such as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act to combat the nation’s opioid crisis, RAY BAUM’s act to reauthorize the FCC, the FDA Reauthorization Act (FDARA) to bring new drugs and generic alternatives to market more quickly, and reauthorizations of the EPA Brownfields Program and Safe Drinking Water, among others.
We also worked together to advance critically important legislation through the House, such as the SELF DRIVE Act, first-of-its-kind legislation to ensure the safe and innovative development, testing, and deployment of self-driving cars, as well as the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act to name a few examples.
We also conducted rigorous oversight of the root causes of the opioid crisis, we held major tech companies accountable, and investigated everything from issues surrounding prescription drug prices, to sexual abuse within Olympic sports, to the cybersecurity challenges facing our nation.
Two years ago today, when we organized the Committee, I made a commitment to continue the bipartisan legacy of the previous Chairman, and my dear friend, Fred Upton. I think we have a great opportunity before us to continue this bipartisan record of success and accomplishment and I know Chairman Pallone shares my commitment to this committee’s work, and the achievements of the last Congress would not have happened without him.
With that, Mr. Chairman, thank you, and congratulations to you and your Members. Our side looks forward to working with you this Congress.
