Matheson Appointed to Powerhouse Energy & Commerce Committee
Matheson Appointed to Powerhouse Energy & Commerce Committee
Congressman Jim Matheson today announced he has been appointed to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a highly-sought and influential House Committee. Energy and Commerce is the oldest legislative standing committee.
Matheson, who worked in the energy business for 13 years prior to being elected to Congress, said the assignment is advantageous for his Utah issues agenda.
"Whether it's my interest in halting the resumption of nuclear weapons testing, to cleaning up radioactive waste, to boosting resources to crack down on companies marketing objectionable material over the Internet to our kids, this Committee assignment gives me leverage over issues important to me and important to Utahns," said Matheson.
Matheson said his past efforts on standing up to the Department of Energy with respect to cleaning up the radioactive waste pile near Moab, and his fight to strip funding for design and development of nuclear "bunker-buster" weapons, drew attention from other members of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Matheson is known for his bipartisan approach and his independent focus on the merits of any particular issue.
Matheson said the economic impact of the Committee's portfolio-energy, technology, health care-touches every American's daily life and its decisions affect individual pocketbooks and the nation's economy alike.
With the broadest jurisdiction of any Congressional committee, Energy and Commerce has principal responsibility for legislative oversight relating to telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health, air quality and environmental health, supply and delivery of energy, and interstate and foreign commerce in general. The committee has jurisdiction over five Cabinet-level Departments and seven independent agencies, including the Departments of Energy, Health and Human Services, Transportation and the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Communications Commission.
"I enjoyed the success I achieved for Utah in past Congressional terms. I am excited to work on these new opportunities available to me as a member of this important committee," said Matheson.
http://www.house.gov/matheson/press2006/061212.html