Texas House Environment Committee Chair Addresses Chamber Environment and Energy Council

Chairman Byron Cook, who chairs the Texas House Committee on Environment, spoke to the Dallas Regional Chamber Environment and Energy Council at noon on Friday, April 23 in the Chamber’s Conference Center. First elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2002, Representative Cook represents Texas House District 8. Cook serves on the prominent Sunset Commission, is Vice Chair of the Local and Consent Calendars and a member of the powerful committees on State Affairs and Calendars. The Energy Council is chaired by Matt Papenfus, President, of Turner Construction Company.

Chairman Cook shared with Council members the many challenges facing his committee during the upcoming legislative session as well as the multi-billion dollar budget shortfall facing the Texas Legislature in January 2011. The Chairman also discussed the potential changes which may take place under the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator, Dr. Al Armendariz, a Southern Methodist University (SMU) associate professor at SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering.

For additional information on the Chamber’s Energy Council contact Jay Barksdale at jbarksdale@dallaschamber.org or fguerra@dallaschamber.org.