Pallone: NJ freshmen not likely to replace Lance on committee

Rep. Frank Pallone, Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said it’s unlikely one of New Jersey’s four first-term congresspeople will replace Rep. Leonard Lance on the committee.

“Generally speaking, it’s going to be hard for anybody who’s a new member to be on Energy and Commerce or any of the exclusive committees because there’re so many people who are already there who want to be on it,” Pallone said. “So, I think it would be hard to add anybody to the exclusive committees.”

Apart from Pallone, Lance was New Jersey’s only member on the powerful committee. He lost his reelection race to Rep.-elect Tom Malinowski, who has so far kept his committee assignment preferences under wraps.

Pallone said it’s possible one of the state’s other congressional delegates secures a seat on the committee, but it’s not clear that any incumbents are seeking such a position.