WASHINGTON — The House Republican Steering Committee Tuesday selected Cass County’s congressman, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, to be the next chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Upton, who has served on the Energy and Commerce Committee since 1991, made the following statement upon learning of the Steering Committee vote. The Republican Conference will ratify the chairmen selections for the 112th Congress this morning.

“I am truly honored and humbled to be entrusted by Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor, Whip McCarthy and the entire Republican Leadership team with the great responsibilities that come with becoming chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, including sitting at the Republican leadership table.

“Republicans were swept into the majority with a clear mandate from the American people: repeal Obamacare, cut the size of government, reduce out-of-control spending, reverse burdensome, job-killing regulations and help put folks back to work. Under my watch, these will be the committee’s very top priorities.

“My old boss, President Ronald Reagan, warned during his farewell address: ‘As government expands, liberty contracts.’ The American people spoke loud and clear on Nov. 2, and we have a charge to stand up for liberty and deliver the real change that the American public expects and demands. We will not let them down.

“This position is of critical importance for Michigan as we seek to turn our economy around and put folks back to work. The Energy and Commerce Committee will be at the forefront as we work to remove harsh regulations that are smothering Michigan’s manufacturers.

“We will exert vigorous oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency and fight the agency’s rampant job-killing regulations that are suffocating our economic recovery.

“We will turn the light from red to green on nuclear power — a move of particular importance with Cook and Palisades along our shoreline that will boost our job security as well as our energy security.

“Energy and Commerce also has jurisdiction over the health care community with a big impact on some of our largest employers including Pfizer, Perrigo and Lakeland, Borgess and Bronson hospitals.

“These are exciting times for Michigan.  I look forward to working very closely with Dave Camp of Midland, who will serve as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in the next Congress. Together, we can help get Michigan back to work and back on track.  Our focus will be jobs and the economy,” Upton said.