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Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) was confirmed this week as the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy for the 114^th Congress. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over all matters related to soil and water contamination; the regulation of solid, hazardous and nuclear wastes; emergency environmental response; industrial plant security; the regulation of drinking water; toxic substances; and noise. Tonko served as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee in the 113th Congress, and will continue his work with Environment and the Economy Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL). Both Chairman Shimkus and Ranking Member Tonko hold engineering degrees.

“I am honored to again have the opportunity to serve in a leadership role on the Energy and Commerce Committee,”said Tonko. “I look forward to continuing my work with Chairman Shimkus to find pragmatic solutions to the challenges before us. As Ranking Member, I will continue to leverage the strengths of the Capital Region to encourage the development of clean energy jobs while protecting the air we breathe and the water we drink. A healthy society is paramount to a growing economy, a robust job market, and a successful environment for American progress, and I look forward to getting back to work.”

In addition to his leadership role, Congressman Tonko will continue to serve on the Subcommittee on Energy and Power as well as the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The Subcommittee on Energy and Power has oversight over national energy policy. The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations has jurisdiction over all agencies, departments and programs within jurisdiction of the Committee.

The Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the most prestigious committees in the House of Representatives. It is the oldest standingcommittee in the House, created in December of 1795, and has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee.

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