Washington (March 22) - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) today announced Rep. Ernie Fletcher (R-KY) is the newest member of the Committee, filling a vacancy left by former Rep. Steve Largent's resignation from Congress last month. 

 "Adding a Member with Ernie Fletcher's ability and know-how is not just the Committee's gain, it's good news for the American people," Chairman Tauzin said. "With his hard work on issues such as the 'Patients' Bill of Rights,' Ernie has more than proved his mettle in just a few short years in the Congress. 

"I look forward to working with Ernie on all of the critically-important policy issues that we tackle each and every day." 

In other news, Chairman Tauzin announced his plans to introduce a resolution, at the next full Committee meeting, to make the following Subcommittee membership changes: 

Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) will be named Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality; 

Rep. Vito Fosella (R-NY) will be named Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials; 

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) will join the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee, filling the Largent vacancy; 

Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH) will join the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, filling another Largent vacancy; and, 

Rep. Fletcher will be named to the Subcommittees on Environment and Hazardous Materials and Oversight and Investigations. 

Prior to serving in Congress, Rep. Fletcher was a Kentucky State Representative and for 12 years a family practice physician.  A Bluegrass native, he is a veteran of the United States Air Force.