Washington, D.C. — Congressman G. K. Butterfield has been named vice chairman of a key House subcommittee.
“Congressman Butterfield will make significant contributions on issues that are of great importance to the American people,” House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman John D. Dingell said.
Dingell has appointed Butterfield as the vice chairman of the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee. Under House rules, the chair of each standing committee designates a member of the majority party as the vice chair of each subcommittee. The vice chair presides over any meeting or hearing in the absence of the chair.
Butterfield said that he looks forward to the hands-on work of the subcommittee.
“Given the significance that energy policy plays, it’s an incredibly exciting opportunity,” Butterfield said.
Butterfield said that energy issues are increasingly important nationally, especially important to families and farmers living in eastern North Carolina. Butterfield said that with jurisdiction over all energy issues and likely oversight on the upcoming Farm Bill’s alternative fuels section, he will be in a strong position to address the concerns of eastern North Carolina’s many families and farmers.
With more than 1,000 active tobacco farms which produce flue-cured tobacco leaves on more than 35,000 acres of land in the First Congressional District, Butterfield said it is important to remember how critical energy costs are to the farmer in eastern North Carolina. He said this important appointment also provides an opportunity for him to address the concerns of families related to home heating costs and the price of gasoline.
The Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee has jurisdiction over national energy policy, energy conservation and energy regulation.