MARTINSBURG – U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., has been appointed to two subcommittees of the House of Representatives’ Natural Resources Committee: Energy and Mineral Resources, and Oversight and Investigations.
The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee is newly formed to oversee the regulatory agencies of the executive branch, according to a news release from Mooney’s office.
“It will have oversight over the (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and other regulatory agencies,” Mooney said in a recent telephone interview. “It will review regulations that folks in the Eastern Panhandle would be interested in.”
Mooney said he requested to be on the subcommittee and he is excited about getting to work on the subcommittee.
“The big issue in West Virginia is the EPA’s regulations on coal,” he said. “The subcommittee will have a broader reach with a chance to investigate the long arm of the regulations.”
Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas, is chairman of the subcommittee.
Mooney also requested to serve on the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee because it is most related to West Virginia, he said.
“This subcommittee oversees energy and mineral resources, mining and energy production mainly on national lands,” Mooney said, adding that he has to research the issues.
Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., is chairman of the subcommittee.
Mooney also serves on the House Budget Committee.
Mooney was excited about being chosen by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to preside over the chamber for one-minute speeches, he said.
One-minute speeches give House members a chance to speak for one-minute on topics of their choice.
“I was excited -I felt comfortable,” he said.
Mooney said most of the members spoke in support of a bill under consideration that would prohibit taxpayer-funded abortions. The bill passed the House Thursday by a vote of 242-179. Mooney voted for the bill.
Thursday was the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that legalized abortions. Anti-abortion advocates gathered in Washington, D.C., Thursday for the 42nd annual March for Life.
Mooney also found that being present for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech was exciting, he said.
“There were a couple of things I could agree with, but there was much that I could not agree with,” Mooney said.
Mooney represents West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional district, which stretches from the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountain to the banks of the Ohio River.
– Staff writer John McVey can be reached at 304-263-3381, ext. 128.