WASHINGTON, D.C. — The powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee, which maintains oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, will have a new leader with the next Congressional session. While it was known that the current House E&C head, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), wouldn’t be in the role as she decided not to seek reelection, who would succeed her wasn’t entire known.
That changed late Monday afternoon.
Rep. Brett Guthrie, who represents the second district of Kentucky — an area including Bowling Green, Glasgow, Owensboro, Elizabethtown and communities immediately to the south of Louisville — got the nod from the House Steering Committee.
This puts Guthrie, whose mission is to fight for “conservative values” in Washington, in the top spot of the House E&C Committee for the 119th Congress, which begins with the inauguration of President Trump for a second non-consecutive term.
“I am honored that my colleagues have selected me to serve as the next Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee,” Guthrie said on the X social media platform. “I am excited to get to work alongside [Speaker of the House] Mike Johnson, Republican Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise — and President Trump — to deliver on our American First agenda.”
With “protecting our children online” a key goal for Guthrie as House E&C leader, he’ll oversee a legislative body that has broad jurisdiction over health care, energy, environment, technology, data privacy and security, broadband, and, of course, the regulatory agency overseeing broadcast media in the U.S.
Commenting on Guthrie’s selection by the House Steering Committee, Rodgers congratulated the House Member on his selection and for “his leadership, determination, and policy acumen,” which she said will serve the Committee, the Conference, and the country well. “I am confident that he will rise to this historic moment of unified Republican control of government to deliver on issues and policies at the forefront of powering our economy, including bolstering our global competitive edge in energy, technology, and health care. The Committee’s rich history and traditions are in great hands, and I am committed to working with Brett and his team to ensure a seamless transition.”
ACA Connects President/CEO Grant Spellmeyer was among the first to congratulate Guthrie from the communication industry’s lobbying corps. Spellmeyer noted that Guthrie “is a longtime supporter of our Members’ efforts to strengthen our nation’s communications infrastructure, build out rural broadband, and deliver high-speed internet to every American. We look forward to working with the incoming Chairman and members of the committee on both sides of the aisle on common-sense legislation and policies that close the digital divide.”
