1-9 NWR Walden Speaks

1-9 NWR Walden Speaks

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
This is your Northwest report for Monday, January 9th I'm David Sparks and US Republican Greg Walden, now Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee is predicting swift action on growing jobs, fixing health care, and doing away with excessive federal regulations as the new session of Congress convenes. "I'm excited about the new session of Congress kicking-off today," said Walden in a video message. "I'll take over as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where we will address the real issues that hold back job growth and wage growth in America, and reform how our health care is delivered, so that it is patient-centered and doctor-centered. And then we are going to take on these excessive and unnecessary rules and regulations as well. I think it is a new chapter in American history. We're looking forward to the inauguration coming up and a lot of work getting done this year."

In December, Walden was selected to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee. As Chairman, Walden will oversee a broad legislative portfolio that includes health care, energy policy, telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, environmental quality, and interstate and foreign commerce. Walden is the first Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman from the Pacific Northwest. 

Elsewhere, and having great ramifications for the West, according to agri-pulse.com Idaho's challenge to a federal land-use plan designed to protect greater sage-grouse has been rejected by a federal judge, who said the state could not demonstrate legal standing.

The state and the Idaho Legislature sued the Interior and Agriculture departments over the federal land-use plan for Idaho and southwestern Montana - as well as the environmental analysis behind it.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) worked with 11 Western states to develop land-use plans including a variety of measures to protect the bird while avoiding having to list it under the Endangered Species Act. That decision was announced Sept. 22.

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