Upton Outlines Energy and Commerce Accomplishments in First Six Months of 112th Congress
Press Release
U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) today released a progress report on the committee's work in the first half of the year, revealing that the panel has produced legislation to save taxpayers close to $90 billion, protect nearly 4 million jobs from being destroyed by job-crushing regulations, and create another 150,000+ jobs via American Energy Initiative legislation to increase domestic production and energy security while bringing down prices at the pump. These new numbers are included in the committee's Second Quarter Report, which Upton released last evening to committee members and the House Republican leadership.
"Last year, we pledged to produce legislation that would protect jobs and promote new ones. We pledged to repeal an unpopular, unfair, and unconstitutional health care law and replace it. We pledged to scrutinize onerous regulations emerging from the vast federal bureaucracy and put a check on the Executive Branch. We pledged to conduct rigorous oversight and develop forward-looking legislative solutions in response to the problems we uncovered. We pledged to promote an all-of-the above energy strategy that would harness America's vast resources and strengthen our partnerships with trusted allies to create a more secure energy future and the economic growth that goes with it," Upton wrote. "Six months into the 112th Congress, I am pleased to report that we have reached significant milestones on each of these essential goals."
The second quarter update summarizes major accomplishments and ongoing initiatives in each of the six subcommittees. Excerpts follow.
Led by Chairman Mary Bono Mack and Vice Chairman Marsha Blackburn, the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee focused its work in the first half of this year on our nation's economic infrastructure -- the conditions and framework in which commerce occurs and jobs are created. This includes everything from trading partnerships and export opportunities to the security of consumer information and individual privacy in an increasingly digital world.
With Chairman Greg Walden at the helm alongside Vice Chairman Lee Terry, the Communications and Technology Subcommittee used the first six months of the 112th Congress to promote innovation and assure that federal policy keeps pace with a dynamic and growing technology marketplace.
Energy is at the forefront of the House agenda for the 112th Congress. Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield and Vice Chairman John Sullivan deserve a great deal of credit for shepherding an aggressive, all-of-the-above energy agenda through our Committee and to the House floor.
Environment and the Economy Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus and Vice Chairman Tim Murphy steered this newly created panel through one of the most eye-opening investigations in recent years, exposing rampant abuse of authority at the nation's top nuclear regulatory authority. At the same time, this panel continues to play a central role in the effort to identify and provide relief from federal regulations that threaten American jobs.
Under the leadership of Chairman Joe Pitts and Vice Chairman Dr. Michael Burgess, the Health Subcommittee has been at the forefront of GOP efforts to expose the hidden costs and devastating consequences of Obamacare. After our historic vote to repeal the law on the House floor in January, the panel began dismantling Obamacare one program at a time, advancing a series of bills to save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars and eliminating the unchecked spending power of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
With Chairman Cliff Stearns leading the charge in tandem with the Vice Chairs of the other five Subcommittees, the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee has conducted numerous inquiries into waste, fraud, and abuse within the Committee's jurisdiction.
Source