Rep. Pfluger Joins the Powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee

WASHINGTON, DC — Wednesday, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) announced that he has been selected to join the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the 118th Congress. The committee, first created in 1795, is the oldest in the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad jurisdiction over energy, health care, environment, technology, data privacy and security, broadband, and much more.

Congressman Pfluger is the first west Texan to serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee in nearly half a century and the first Member to represent Midland and Odessa on the committee.

Chairing the committee is Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). McMorris Rodgers, who has been in Congress since 2005, is the former chair of the House Republican Conference. McMorris Rodgers and Pfluger see eye-to-eye as she has long been a proponent of domestic energy production. Pfluger's mantra in the previous congress, his freshman term, was to encourage domestic energy production rather than seeking oil from nefarious actors on the global stage, like Vladamir Putin's Russia. Pfluger called his plan "Midland Over Moscow."

“I am excited and proud to welcome Rep. Pfluger to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. We will be at the forefront of House Republicans’ efforts to restore public trust in representative government," said Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers. "Americans have elected us to hold the line against Biden’s agenda. They want a different path, one that promotes free markets, innovation, free speech, and individual freedom. We stand ready to plow the hard ground necessary to legislate, hold the Biden administration accountable, and restore American leadership.”

Other Republican congressmen from Texas received powerful positions in the 118th Congress. The House Budget Committee Chair will be Lubbock's Rep. Jodey Arrington (TX-19). House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chair will be west Houston's Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10). House Committee on Small Business Chair will be the car dealer from west of Fort Worth, Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25). Rep. Tony Gonzales (TX-23) of Del Rio/Eagle Pass will serve on the House Appropriations Committee. Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13), of Amarillo, will serve on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Rep. Pfluger released a video announcing his committee assignment. Watch the video here: