1.22.1975

Dingell and Rep. John Moss successfully force major changes in the rules of the Commerce Committee, effectively gaining control.  The Washington Post reported:   "The Commerce Committee adopted rules which significantly democratize its operations -- limiting the chairman's power to control budgets, setting ratios on subcommittees, and becoming the first committee to decide to elect its subcommittee chairmen by secret ballot among committee Democrats.  The rules changes were pushed by senior liberals Moss, John Dingell (Mich.) and Paul Rogers (Fla.)…One member speculated that the result of electing subcommittee chairmen by secret ballot might be some overthrows."(Washington Post, 1.22.75)

One week later, Moss defeats (Full Committee Chairman) Staggers on a secret ballot to be the Chair of the Subcommittee on Special Investigations.  (Washington Post, 1.29.75)

Dingell is elected Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.  He pushes an activist agenda in the oil and gas policies of the country.

1.1975-12.1976

Dingell oversees an activist subcommittee and reports out the following legislation that becomes law:

• Emergency Petroleum Allocations Act Extension (PL 94-99 and PL 94-133)
• Energy Conservation and Production Act (PL 94-385)
• Federal Energy Administration Act Extension (PL 94-332)
• Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act  (PL 94-586)

12.13.1975

Dingell, age 49, reaches his 20-year anniversary representing the 16th District of Michigan in the House of Representatives. 

12.22.1975

President Ford signs landmark Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 sponsored by Dingell.  This landmark act was introduced by Dingell in 1974 to address the nation's pressing needs for emergency energy policies following the OPEC oil embargo and subsequent shortages of petroleum products.  It gave Presidential authority to enact allocation and conservation measures for oil and petroleum products in an emergency.  It included conservation measures such as standards for energy efficiency, a transition to better automotive fuel efficiency targets under the corporate fuel economy standards (CAFE), and incentives for converting from natural gas to coal.  (HR 7014, PL 94-163)