Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) has been appointed to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee.
The committee is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and oversees a variety of national policy issues, including health care, energy, telecommunications, consumer protection, and interstate and foreign commerce.
Bilirakis is the only Republican from Florida on the committee in the 113th Congress.
The appointment was made by the Republican Steering Committee and is expected to be ratified in a pro-forma vote by the full House GOP conference before the start of the new session of Congress.
“I am humbled to have been selected for Energy and Commerce, and I want to thank Speaker (John) Boehner, Chairman (Fred) Upton and my colleagues in the House for providing me this opportunity and placing their trust in my ability to serve our state and country in this capacity,” Bilirakis said. “Our Nation faces a number of critical challenges, many of which will be addressed by this committee. With the fourth largest GDP of any state, Florida is an important and robust economic engine that should carry great consideration when Congress examines ways we can create jobs and drive this economy forward.
“Furthermore, our state has the greatest proportion of residents 65 years and older, making it even more important for Congress to ensure a quality and affordable healthcare system for current and future generations,” he said. “Finally, with the highest per capita residential electricity demand, Florida has a vested interest in ensuring our country becomes energy independent and has reliable access to a broad array of energy sources.”
Upton added: “I am excited to have a hard-working and dedicated public servant, like Gus, join the Energy and Commerce team. We have a talented group of leaders who are committed to creating jobs, protecting consumers and strengthening our energy security, and I look forward to working with Congressman Bilirakis as we tackle the important work that lies ahead in the next Congress.”
The House Energy and Commerce Committee also oversees multiple cabinet-level departments and independent agencies, including the departments of Energy, Health and Human Services, Commerce, and Transportation, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission. Its history includes legislative milestones, such as the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Clean Air Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act. DATAKAM