Walden chosen to chair Energy and Commerce

The post also means Walden will be a key player in the debate over the fate of the Affordable Care Act, which President-elect Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have said will be repealed and replaced with another health care plan.

Walden said in a Thursday statement that he'll "focus on what's best for consumers, on creating better paying jobs and providing patient-centered health care" in his new role.

He represents Oregon's Second Congressional District, one of the largest in the nation, that encompasses Wasco and 19 other counties.

Walden has served in federal office since 1998, the only Republican member of Oregon’s congressional delegation. He spent much of his childhood in The Dalles and now resides in Hood RIver.