On Walden Pond: Oregon Rep New House E&C Chair

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The chairman of the influential House Communications and Technology Subcommittee has been tapped to succeed Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) as Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.


Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) was officially given the nod late Thursday. He will officially assume control of the committee in the 115th Congress.

“Like the Chicago Cubs, we are a team full of MVPs, and Energy and Commerce will be in great hands with my friend Greg Walden holding the gavel,” Upton said. “Greg’s leadership with #SubCommTech demonstrated his hard work and proven record of success.”

Upton added that there’s still much work to do in the remaining days of this Congress. That includes “getting 21st Century Cures across the finish line.”

He continued, “As we look toward a new year, a new Congress, and a new administration, the Energy and Commerce Committee will be leading the way on health reform, keeping energy affordable, and putting folks back to work.”

Upton was selected by his colleagues to serve as E&C Committee Chairman in 2010; he must step down due to term limits.

Others up for the role of Chairman were said to include Rep. Joe Barton, a Texas Republican who served as Chairman from 2004-2007 and is presently Chairman Emeritus; and Illinois Rep. John Shimkus, a conservative Republican committee member who has spoken on the House floor about the defunding of Planned Parenthood and the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare). Regular tweets include quotes from the Bible.