Pinellas Congressman Gus Bilirakis has been appointed to the influential US 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.
“I am humbled to have been selected for Energy and Commerce, and I want to thank Speaker Boehner, Chairman 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,” said Bilirakis.
Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Congressman Fred 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 rich history includes legislative milestones, such as the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act.
