It's always dangerous to forecast the future, and projecting the outlook for American public policy is particularly challenging. Political crystal balls are notoriously cloudy. Yet here's a pretty safe bet. Right now, it looks as if one issue will dominate the 2012 election: jobs. The party or candidate that articulates a plausible plan for employment will win. And I'll go out on a limb again. This debate won't end in November 2012. America needs a Jobs Decade - a comprehensive and sustained eff... Read more

Today, the U.S. Committee on Energy and Commerce, chaired by Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), passed bipartisan legislation to create jobs, lower energy prices, and fortify American energy security by supporting the expansion of the Keystone XL pipeline. Upton is an original cosponsor of H.R. 1938, the North American-Made Energy Security Act, which would expedite a Presidential Permit for a 1,661-mile extension of the energy pipeline from Alberta, Canada to refineries in the United States.... Read more

Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, praised this evening’s passage of bipartisan legislation to allow for expanded energy exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Jobs and Energy Permitting Act (H.R. 2021) seeks to streamline the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) permitting process and eliminate needless regulatory delays that have prevented energy development in these waters. The bill, of which Upton is a cosponsor, pass... Read more

By Rep. Fred Upton (MI-06) - One year ago today, the Obama administration declared the summer of 2010, “Recovery Summer.” Even as the unemployment rate soared to a staggering 9.8 percent, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner penned an out-of-touch oped entitled, “Welcome to the Recovery.” With the unemployment rate still hovering above 9 percent a year later, Democrats are finally singing a different tune. President Obama’s former economic advisor Larry Summers this week admitted, “The United Sta... Read more

By Andrew Green - The long-stalled Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage facility the topic of a committee hearing in Washington this week. The repository had been planned as a place to stash all of the nation's spent nuclear fuel, but its completion has been bogged down by political dissent. Congressman Fred Upton took part in this week's hearing of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, calling for Yucca Mountain to be allowed to move forward. He said that having a safe place to send ... Read more

Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today reiterated his call for the continued development of the Yucca Mountain repository for the safe, permanent storage of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel. Upton is a longtime supporter of safe nuclear power to meet the nation’s growing energy needs. His southwest Michigan district is home to the D.C. Cook and Palisades nuclear generating stations, which locally employ nearly 2,000 people and account for... Read more

By Rep. Fred Upton (MI-06) - With last month’s bleak jobs report, the economy and job creation remain Americans’ top concerns. Rather than another failed tax, spend and borrow stimulus project, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is exploring ways to empower job creators, maximize American resources, save money and spur the economy. House Republicans are calling our efforts “A Plan for America’s Job Creators.” Wireless broadband and U.S. spectrum policy will play a vital role in these effort... Read more

Click HERE to listen West Michigan Congressman Fred Upton says negotiations over raising the nation's debt ceiling should lead to major structural changes. Upton says that will mean some tough decisions on cutting spending. The Saint Joseph Republican says no one wants to see the United States default on its debt, but he says spending reductions are needed for the next fiscal year. Upton says Congress is also overdue to tackle comprehensive reform of the tax code. The Congressman says he is opti... Read more

Yesterday afternoon, Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) visited Eaton Corp’s Vehicle Group in Galesburg for an update on the division’s developments in revolutionary vehicle technologies as well as to discuss the impact of federal policies on local job growth and innovation. Upton has been a strong supporter of Eaton, having worked closely with the company for many years to assist in their efforts to build safer, more fuel efficient vehicles and create jobs in southwest Michigan. Upton serves... Read more

Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) today joined Stryker CEO Steve MacMillan and leading industry representatives along with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow for a press conference to highlight America’s role as the world’s leading innovator in medical technology and the urgent need to maintain industry competitiveness. The event was hosted by the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), which unveiled its “Competitiveness Agenda,” a series of policy recommendations to ensure the vitalit... Read more