WASHINGTON, DC – The Ripon Society held a luncheon discussion yesterday afternoon with five senior staff members from the House Energy & Commerce Committee, who discussed some of the Committee’s key accomplishments this Congress, and the panel’s agenda between now and the end of the year.
The staff members participating in the discussion included: Mike Bloomquist, who serves as Staff Director of the Committee and is pictured above; Ryan Long, who serves as Deputy Staff Director; Karen Chistian, who serves as General Counsel; Josh Trent, who serves as Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Health; and, Tim Kurth, who serves as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Subcommitte on Communicaions and Technology.
“The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives,” stated Ripon Society President & CEO Jim Conzelman in remarks to open the event. “The Committee is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee, and was originally established on December 14, 1795, as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures. Growing demands of our young nation required that Congress establish a permanent panel to exercise its constitutional authority to ‘regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States.’
“From combatting the opioid crisis to funding critical mental health programs to addressing the looming cybersecurity threat, the Committee has led the way in some of the most important battles our nation continues to fight.”
“A lot has changed over the past 223 years. But one thing that hasn’t changed is that the Energy & Commerce Committee continues to play a critical role in national affairs. This year is no different. From combatting the opioid crisis to funding critical mental health programs to addressing the looming cybersecurity threat, the Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Greg Walden (OR-2), has led the way in some of the most important battles our nation continues to fight. We appreciate Mike and and the other members of Team Walden for taking the time to join us to discuss their efforts in these and other areas.”
According to Conzelman, yesterday’s discussion was attended by a crowd of nearly 100 people and follows up on similar discussions The Ripon Society has held with House and Senate Leadership and Committee staffs over the past few years. Conzelman further noted that yesterday’s discussion was the 51st event The Ripon Society has held in 2018, and that there is one more discussion before this year’s August recess: a discussion on the opioid crisis and criminal justice reform with U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (OH) on Thursday, August 2nd.
The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 – Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.
To view additional photos of yesterday’s luncheon discussion, please click here.