U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee/2018 Election: Leadership Change

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The election of a Democratic Majority in the United States House of Representatives last night obviously means there will be a change of leadership/control in this committee – the Energy and Commerce Committee (“E&C Committee”).

The E&C Committee has very broad jurisdiction which includes an array of energy and environmental issues.

Examples of energy related issues the E&C Committee addresses include:

• National Energy Policy
• Fossil Energy
• Renewable Energy
• Nuclear Energy/Facilities
• Department of Energy
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Synthetic and Alternative Fuels
• Energy Conservation
• Utility Issues
• Interstate Energy Compacts
• Energy Generation/Marketing/Reliability/Transmission/Siting/Exploration/Production/Efficiency
• Ratemaking

Environmental issues addressed by the E&C Committee include:

• Soil/Air/Water Contamination
• Superfund
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
• Solid/Hazardous/Nuclear Waste
• Clean Air Act
• Emergency Environmental Response
• Industrial Plant Security
• Safe Drinking Water Act
• Underground Injection
• Caustic Substances Control Act
• Noise

Current Ranking Minority Member Frank Pallone is expected to assume the Chairmanship of the E&C Committee at the start of the next Congress.  He is in his 15^th full term in the House of Representatives and represents New Jersey's 6^th Congressional District.

Current Chairman Greg Walden is expected to become the E&C Committee’s Ranking Member. He represents Oregon’s 2^nd Congressional District.