The House Energy and Commerce Committee has settled on the themes for its first hearings of the new Congress, focusing on bolstering U.S. innovations and advancements in domestic wireless technology and chemical production. The topics send a signal about the panel’s priorities in the new Republican governing trifecta — and what political message it wants to send through the policies it plans to highlight. On Wednesday, Jan. 22, the Environment Subcommittee will hold a hearing to assess whether the EPA has interpreted a decade-old, landmark chemical safety law in contradiction...

Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum promised to maximize drilling on federal lands at his confirmation hearing for interior secretary Thursday, calling the incoming administration’s goal of “energy dominance” the surest way to guarantee America’s national security. “When energy production is restricted in America, it doesn’t reduce demand, it just shifts production to countries like Russia, Venezuela, and Iran, whose autocratic leaders don’t care about the environment,” Burgum said in his opening statement.

A number of President-elect Donald Trump's choices for his second-term Cabinet have seen their scheduled confirmation hearings postponed, with Senate committees citing outstanding documents. Hearings for Doug Collins, tapped to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who was chosen for Secretary of the Interior, were set for Tuesday as part of the Trump transition team and Senate Republicans' ambitious effort to confirm Trump's Cabinet. However, they were delayed at the last minute.

The confirmation hearing for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, was postponed by two days. Noem will appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) on Friday at 9 a.m. She was previously slated to appear before the committee on Wednesday. A committee aide told The Hill the hearing was postponed “due to a delay on the FBI background check for Governor Noem.” Noem is not the only presumptive nominee whose hearing has been delayed by paperwork....

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate energy panel said on Monday the nomination hearing for President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of the interior will take place on Thursday instead of Tuesday, blaming a "bureaucratic delay" with a U.S. ethics office.

Burgum is also being considered to head a new national energy council to coordinate policies to boost U.S. energy production.