WASHINGTON, D.C. (Erie News Now) -- Congressman Nick Langworthy (R- NY) has been appointed to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

According to Langworthy's office, he is the first member of Congress to represent the region on the committee in modern history. 

“It's really important to have a seat at this table. And I'll be the only Republican from the state of New York to be on this committee as well,” said Langworthy. 

The Energy and Commerce Committee is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad jurisdiction. The committee covers issues related to telecommunications, consumer protection, public health, energy policy and interstate and foreign commerce. 

Langworthy told Erie News Now that he’s looking forward to improving broadband and rural healthcare for New York’s 23rd Congressional District. 

“We need the jobs desperately, we need the energy desperately, we need more electricity on the grid,” said Langworthy. “If we're ever going to have a shot to turn the economy around, we're going to have to do a lot with energy in New York, in the Northeast, in places that have passed laws that are very adversarial to energy, in energy exploration and energy transmission,” he added. 

When it comes to fracking in New York, Langworthy said he is going to do what he by working with the Trump administration to increase energy production and drive down energy costs for residents. He says “downstate interests,” that aren’t impacted by the same economic challenges in his district, have driven policies in Albany that have negatively impacted residents in the region. 

“We're going to look at any and all avenues that are on the table to see what ways we can work with the state to hopefully get the state to get a little more imaginative with their energy policies,” said Langworthy. “Democrats that lead New York State have put mass electrification mandates out there that they can't meet, the technology can't meet it. There's not enough energy in the grid. We have to get serious about what can come forward in the future.” 

Langworthy believes lower energy costs will drive down costs across the board, which he says will boost the region’s agriculture, wine and tourism sectors.