FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2007Contact: In DC - Brandon MacGillis (202) 225-4431
In CO - Chris Arend (303) 844-4988 
 
 
WASHINGTON, DC – Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette (D-CO) announced today that she has been asked by Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) to serve as Vice Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.  Rep. DeGette also announced today that she has been asked by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve on the U.S. House Page Board.
 

“I am incredibly honored that Chairman Dingell has named me Vice-Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee,” said Rep. DeGette (D-CO).  “For more than five decades, Chairman Dingell has been a powerful force on the Committee leading the fight to protect the environment and make healthcare affordable for all Americans.  I am both flattered and humbled to be tapped to serve as his second in command.”

Rep. DeGette has served for a decade on the exclusive Energy and Commerce Committee.  As Vice-Chair of one of the most powerful committees in the House, Congresswoman DeGette will have the opportunity to be the acting Chair of the committee when Mr. Dingell is kept away on other business.  She will also be tasked with spearheading certain special projects and will assist the Chairman in promoting the Committee’s legislative agenda.

"Diana is an extremely intelligent member of the Committee, and she certainly has a bright future ahead of her in the Democratic Party," said Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. "Her leadership on stem cell research and other matters has won her the respect of colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I look forward to working together on the many important issues the Committee will address this year. "

In announcing Rep. DeGette’s appointment to the Page Board, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said:

“As the mother of two daughters, including one who served in Congress as a Page, Congresswoman Diana DeGette brings to her new position on the Page Board a wealth of personal experience and concern for our nation’s children.  She also brings her tremendous leadership skills, and her ability to accomplish a great deal.  I have full confidence that she will conduct serious and sustained oversight of the Page Program,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“I am honored that Speaker Pelosi has named me to the Page Board,” said Rep. DeGette. “As a lawyer and mother, I bring unique insight to the effort to revamp and strengthen the page board in order to better protect the young people who serve our great institution.  We must ensure that something like the former Congressman Mark Foley scandal never happens again.“

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