House Republicans finalize Commerce leadership

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Fred UptonFormer Communications Subcommittee Chair Fred Upton (R-MI) (pictured) remains chair of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Greg Walden (R-OR) is still the Republican leader at Communications. But Walden will have a new vice-chair in the 113th Congress.


The Communications positioned opened up due to the promotion of Lee Terry (R-NE) to chair the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, replacing Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), who was returned to the private sector by the voters in her district.

The new vice chair working with Walton will be Bob Latta (R-OH).

Commenting on the Committee’s goals for 2013, Upton made no specific mention of any particular communications goals, other than to attempt to increase jobs in that field as well as all others under the Committee’s jurisdiction. He said, “Jobs are, and will continue to be, job one. We must strive for a smaller, modernized government geared for the innovation era, where the obsolete programs of yesterday are abandoned for fresh approaches that unleash growth and advancement in all sectors – communications, health, manufacturing, and energy. We must also stand up for families, communities, and successful civic initiatives that are working at the state and local level.”