NO FUEL LIKI \N OLD FOSSIL II II 



843 



partment of Energy in 1977. Wydler expressed concern that the re- 

 search-oriented ERDA stall might not be fully equipped to handle 

 the major, near-term challenges to DOE in the areas of regulation, 

 allocations and the pricing of oil and gas. ERDA was folded into the 

 new department, which also included many other energy operations in 

 the Department of Interior, Federal Power Commission and other agen- 

 cies. Even though the Department of Energy did not start effectively 

 functioning until 1978, it simplified considerably the work of the 

 committee. For example, the committee no longer had to referee 

 interagency squabbles or run the gauntlet of agency lobbying based 

 on protection of jurisdictional turf rather than the substantive merit 

 of legislation. The Bureau of Mines, much of which was transferred 

 to DOE, no longer lobbied as strongly against attempts to coordinate 

 their efforts. The committee found the coal mining R. & D. program 

 weak, and lacking in focus and capable management. 



AD HOC COMMITTEE OX ENERGY 



Speaker O'Neill decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee on 

 Energy, chaired by Representative Thomas L. Ashley (Democrat of 

 Ohio) in order to pull together a coordinated House effort on Presi- 

 dent Carter's new energy program. On April 1, Teague wrote to 

 Speaker O'Neill: 



I read in the newspapers, and I hear rumors and it seems well known that you 

 intend to appoint a Select Committee on Energy. I would hope that my committee 

 would be represented in the best possible way, and I would like to recommend Hon- 

 orable Walter Flowers, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Fossil and Nuclear Energy 

 Research, Development and Demonstration, and Honorable Mike McCormack, 

 Chairman of the Subcommittee on Advanced Energy Technologies and Energy 

 Conservation Research, Development and Demonstration. 



What subsequently happened could have been accurately predicted 

 by anyone who knows Mike McCormack. McCormack works while 

 others sleep. He touches all the bases. He goes directly to the sources 

 of power. He points to the fact his district is traditionally Republican, 

 therefore the Democratic leadership owes him recognition to retain 

 his seat. He is respected, within and outside Congress, as one of the 

 most knowledgeable experts in all areas of energy. He is not bashful 

 in insisting that he be given every possible opportunity to exercise 

 and apply his knowledge. Hence it was that through successive 

 appointments by Miller and Teague, McCormack was given a chance 

 to vault over several more senior Members to become chairman of 

 the task force and later the Subcommittee on Energy. Those positions 

 entitled him to build on his reputation and be in line for other re- 



