HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – After six years as chairman of the full committee on Energy and Commerce, St. Joseph Congressman Fred Upton has been tapped to Chair the Subcommittee on Energy.
Upton was appointed by Greg Walden who has taken over the House Energy and Commerce Committee for Upton.
Upton says it’s one of the most important sub-committees from pipeline safety to making sure the grid is reliable and safe to cyber security. Moving us on a path to energy independence in North America is utmost important Upton says.
“Because of technology advances, because of what we have been able to produce here domestically, we are in a much stronger position. I remember the 1970’s oil embargo. You could only fill up your car depending on your license plate number on an odd or even day. Sometimes it would take more than an hour. But look where we are today. We’re still way below where we were eight years ago. it just tells us that we need to continue to push for technology and make sure we can be energy independent so we don’t have to rely on what I call these “robber barons” over in the Middle East where they actually have a knife at our jugular in terms of economic growth in the future.”
In his six years as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Upton had 354 measures pass through the House and 202 bills and provisions signed into law.
