Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) (center), who is expected to be the new chair of the Senate Energy Committee, met with ACEC President Dave Raymond (left) and former Chairman Ted Williams on Capitol Hill last year.
This week’s election will bring new faces to critical leadership positions in Congress, and new opportunities for both energy and infrastructure interests.
Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA) is expected to remain as chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK)—another longtime friend of the engineering industry—is expected to take over as the new chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over MAP-21 and other critical infrastructure programs.
The energy sector could be a major beneficiary of the Republican takeover in the Senate. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is expected to be elevated to majority leader, has indicated that legislation approving the Keystone pipeline project will be an early priority in the new session. Other bipartisan initiatives, including an energy efficiency bill championed by the expected new chair of the Senate Energy Committee, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), may also move forward.
The defense committees in both the House and Senate will get new leadership, with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) expected to take over as chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) expected to take the helm of the House panel.