Oregon just earned a major win with Oregon Congressman Greg Walden being elected to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, according to The Hill.
“The significance of Congressman Walden’s ascension to chairman of the vitally important Energy and Commerce Committee cannot be overstated, especially for an energy-important, commercially strategic Western state such as ours,” says NFIB/OR State Director Anthony K. Smith. “In the modern political era, the importance of experience and effectiveness increase exponentially from session to session. Oregon is blessed to have a representative who excels at both qualities.”
It’s important to note that Walden is Oregon’s only member of Congress from the majority party, Smith said. With Republicans now controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, Walden is well-situated to make a big difference for Oregon and small businesses across the country.
And the fact that he is a former small business owner also helps.
“His personal experience as a small-business owner is an added bonus for Main Street, Oregon entrepreneurs,” Smith says of the 2nd Congressional District’s representative. “His 100 percent, pro-small-business voting records in the last two Congresses are living testimony to his commitment to Oregon’s mom-and-pop enterprises. Small business has always had an equal voice at Congressman Walden’s table.”
Two of the biggest industries under the jurisdiction of the House Energy & Commerce Committee are technology and healthcare, two areas in which Walden has experience. He previously owned two Oregon radio stations and worked in healthcare in rural areas of Oregon, according to The Hill.
“Americans are looking for big improvements out of Washington, and that’s just what we’re going to give them as we work with the Trump administration, the Senate, and the governors, to move forward on the Better Way agenda,” Walden said in a statement. “Our work will focus on what’s best for consumers, on creating better paying jobs and providing patient-centered healthcare.”
Walden beat out Reps. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas) for the position. Republicans said his performance at the National Republican Congressional Committee played into his favor as well.
The committee is responsible for the nation’s consumer protection, energy policy, environmental quality, food and drug safety, interstate and foreign commerce, public health research, and telecommunications, according to Walden’s website.
