WASHINGTON, D.C. — The top Democrat on the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee will be staying as Ranking Member once the 119th Congress begins after the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump.
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) thanked the House Democratic Caucus, which unanimously elected him to return as Ranking Member of the legislative body in the House of Representatives that maintains oversight of the FCC.
“It’s an honor to be elected to once again serve as the lead Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to work together to deliver for the American people, protect the progress we’ve made, and hold the incoming Trump Administration accountable. I will fight vigorously to defend all that we have accomplished together in recent years, including historic health care enrollment, lowering prescription drug prices, combating the climate crisis, and investing in American infrastructure and manufacturing. Committee Democrats will not back down from lowering everyday costs for American families, growing our economy, protecting consumers, and leading the clean energy transition. I’ll also continue to seek bipartisan consensus in order to advance meaningful legislation that will make a difference in the lives of the American people.”
The Energy and Commerce Committee is the oldest continuous standing committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. It was established in 1795 to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. Today, the Committee has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee in Congress and legislates on health care; health insurance; biomedical research and development; food safety; clean air and climate change; safe drinking water; national energy policy; nuclear facilities; electronic communications and the internet; privacy, cybersecurity, and data security; consumer protection and product safety; travel, tourism, and sports; interstate and foreign commerce; and other areas.
