Pallone gets Energy and Commerce chairmanship

House Democrats unanimously elected Rep. Frank Pallone to the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, making the longtime congressman from Long Branch one of the most influential members of Congress’s lower chamber.

“I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to build a stronger economy, create more good-paying jobs and protect consumers from skyrocketing costs. In the coming months, we will push an aggressive agenda to rebuild America, combat climate change, make health care and prescription drugs more affordable, and protect peoples’ privacy,” Pallone said. “We’ll also conduct robust oversight of the Trump Administration’s ongoing actions to sabotage our health care system, exacerbate climate change and weaken consumer protections.”

The committee happens to be the oldest of any in the House and legislates on a wide range of policy issues, including ones like cybersecurity and privacy, which are increasingly in the public eye.