WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, has launched a campaign to become chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The nine-term congressman currently serves as chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee and is a member of the Health Subcommittee and Energy Subcommittee.

Since 2010, Latta has served on all six of its subcommittees and advanced bills or initiatives that became law.

The Energy and Commerce Committee is the oldest standing committee in the House and handles a wide range of issues, including energy policy, environmental quality, food and drug safety, public health and interstate and foreign commerce.

“It’s the greatest committee in Congress because they have the broadest jurisdiction,” Latta said. “I believe I have that knowledge and experience being able to get pieces of legislation passed.”

The current chair, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., announced her upcoming retirement in February.

Also vying to succeed Rodgers in the top position is Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky.

“I’m from an energy-producing state. I understand energy, energy and commerce. We have telecom, a big part of our committee,” Guthrie told Spectrum News’ Erin Kelly in a February interview. “How do we deal with AI? How do we deal with privacy [going] forward?”

Latta said his energy priorities include an all-of-the-above energy strategy that invests in renewable energies like nuclear, hydropower, wind and solar, as well as non-renewables like gas and petroleum.

“The federal government shouldn’t be picking winners and losers. This is what the market dictates and what will work out there. I’m a firm believer in this: let the American entrepreneur be turned loose,” Latta said.

Latta said he also wants to continue to tackle the high cost of prescription drugs. He previously authored the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act, which passed in 2018, intended to modernize the over-the-counter drug framework by allowing for new, safe products to come to market faster.

Latta has also voiced support for expanding rural broadband access and rolling back strict new federal vehicle emissions standards, which he described as a de facto ban on gas-powered cars.

A Republican will chair the committee in the next Congress only if the party can maintain the House majority in the next election.

If fellow committee member’s hand Latta the gavel, he would be the fourth Ohio representative chairing a House committee, quite an accomplishment for a delegation that makes up just 3% of House members.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story misspelled Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' name. This has been corrected. (March 29, 2024)