Loebsack lands seat on House Energy and Commerce Committee

CEDAR RAPIDS - U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack has landed a spot on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the oldest standing committee in the House and a key assignment because of its far-ranging jurisdiction.

The committee has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues, including energy, health care; trade; telecommunications and the Internet, environment and air quality, and consumer affairs and protection.

Having a seat on the 54-member committee will allow Loebsack to have a greater impact on job creation and growing the economy, he said Wednesday.

Loebsack, an Iowa City Democrat just re-elected to a fifth term, said a seat on the committed puts him in a position to help guide 'sound investments in renewable energy such as wind, solar and biofuels and growing the middle class in Iowa and across the country,” he said.

The 2nd District congressman will be the lone Iowans on the committee. Outgoing 1st District Rep. Bruce Braley is an Energy and Commerce Committee member.

The committee is an exclusive committee, meaning members of the committee may only serve on other House committees with a waiver from leadership.

Loebsack, who currently serves on the Education, Labor and Armed Services committees, plans to seek a waiver, according to a spokesman.