The voters have spoken. The failed job-killing policies of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama have been soundly rejected. We have a clear mandate to cut the size of government, reduce spending and reverse costly job-killing regulations. The new Republican majority will be different — we will listen.
Pelosi never listened to the American people and she never lived up to her promises. We will do both. This change will be evident from day one at the Energy and Commerce Committee, where as a result of House Republican reforms that instituted term limits, there is a vacancy for chairman.
I have a well-earned reputation as a team player and a tough Republican legislator. As chairman, I will work hand-in-glove with my fellow committee chairmen, communicating constantly with our conference. I have a carefully crafted vision for the Energy and Commerce Committee that will foster spending cuts, reduce the size of government and eliminate burdensome regulations that kill jobs. Today, I am putting the Obama administration on notice that we will be relentless in our oversight duties and shine the spotlight on its regulatory policies that have thus far been hiding in the dark. The founding fathers intended Congress to provide a check and balance to the power of the presidency, and Nancy Pelosi has been derelict in that responsibility. From day one, we will fulfill our constitutional duty.
My vision and pledge as chairman of Energy and Commerce:
1.) I will protect the sanctity of human life through rigorous oversight and by passing Rep. Pitts’ Protect Life Act and Rep. Chris Smith’s No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act to ensure that no taxpayer dollars ever go to pay for an abortion.
I have a long record of supporting the sanctity of life. My voting record strongly reflects my values: opposing any federal funding for abortion, supporting legislation limiting the practice, and defending the conscience clause.
2.) I will reveal, repeal and replace Obamacare.
The people’s message from November 2nd is clear: repeal this bill, hit the reset button, and replace it with a market-based alternative that lowers costs and promotes choice.
3.) I will exert tireless oversight of the EPA and stop implementation of a carbon regulation scheme and other job-killing regulations.
We cannot allow this scheme to sell out American workers to the international community for a policy that will cost well over a trillion dollars and eliminate countless jobs. I value our constitutional system of government checks and balances. I will focus on ensuring the federal government remains limited, transparent, and accountable, as our founding fathers intended.
4.) I will immediately adopt new committee rules to foster spending cuts and eliminate government programs.
Under the Democrats’ one-party rule, our nation’s debt has skyrocketed at an alarming rate. I have opposed trillions of dollars in new and increased spending and have continued to support meaningful reforms to put our fiscal house back in order.
5.) I will block the FCC from regulating the Internet.
The FCC’s regulatory compass must be broken as it continues in its unrelenting pursuit to impose so-called network neutrality regulations, regardless of whether the agency has the legal authority for such a blind power grab, and whether such regulations will actually undermine the FCC’s ability to achieve the goals of the National Broadband Plan. The FCC must stand down from pursuing a course unauthorized and opposed by Congress.
6.) I will ensure all of the committee’s legislation is consistent with traditional family values.
I have long fought to curb indecency in public broadcasting [Upton/Brownback Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005], protect our kids from online predators, and led the fight for abstinence-only education. I also proudly support the Parental Rights Amendment.
I view the role of chairman as ensuring that the committee is consistently advancing towards our Republican goals and drawing from the strengths of all our members.
My vision for the Energy and Commerce Committee is a conservative agenda that focuses on cutting spending, removing regulatory burdens, restoring freedom, keeping government accountable through rigorous oversight, and creating jobs. We are going to take a coordinated approach that involves direct input from the American people and focuses on an aggressive communications strategy that effectively articulates our message. The job-killing policies of Obama and Pelosi end here.
It is not about any of us as individuals. It is about all of us working together as a cohesive unit to advance our ideals and our conservative agenda. As I learned from my old boss, President Ronald Reagan, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”
There are powerful forces working against us, pushing a liberal agenda that will do further damage to our economy. The American people not only rejected the Democrats’ misguided vision for America, they heard our message of cutting spending, reducing the size of government, and removing the regulatory burden that has hampered economic growth and destroyed jobs. As chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I will fight for these ideals shoulder-to-shoulder with every member of our conference.
I have the conservative vision, the well-earned reputation as a tough legislator, the proven experience, the steady leadership, and the consensus-building skills to succeed.
Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) is the ranking member on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. He represents Michigan’s Sixth Congressional District.