(Host) Congressman Peter Welch says his new committee assignment in the House should give Vermont new clout on important national issues.
He concedes that two years ago he said largely the same thing when he landed on the Rules Committee.
But Welch says the new position will help him build on work he began in his first term.
VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports.
(Sneyd) In Congress, most of the work of drafting laws happens in committees.
So Welch says it’s important that he’s been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
(Welch) “These issues are incredibly important to Vermont, energy, health care, telecom. So what you have is the jurisdictional power of that committee where you’re going to have a seat at the table for Vermont on things that are incredibly important to Vermont.”
(Sneyd) The committee does have broad jurisdiction, so it’s always a place where a lot of important issues are debated.
This year, it may be even more prominent. That’s because President-elect Barack Obama says health care reform and energy conservation are top priorities for his incoming administration.
Welch says his previous experience in the Vermont Legislature will give him a head-start when the committee gets down to work.
(Welch) “And my goal will be to do things in the national debate that include very practical steps that we’ve taken here in Vermont, usually on a bipartisan basis, that have been very significant and very helpful on health care, telecom and energy.”
(Sneyd) Welch says he had to give up his seat on the Rules Committee to take the new position. But he says his service on Rules over the past two years should continue to help Vermont. That’s because he’s established working relationships with so many top congressional leaders who can help get Vermont initiatives adopted.
For VPR News, I’m Ross Sneyd