McKeon, Moorhead to Lead House Panels

Both of the San Fernando Valley area’s Republican congressmen have emerged from leadership meetings this week as chairmen of House subcommittees, substantially increasing their clout on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Howard (Buck) McKeon of Santa Clarita has been selected chairman of the subcommittee on postsecondary education, training and lifelong learning, while Glendale Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead was named chairman of the subcommittee on intellectual property and judicial administration, officials said.

McKeon’s panel, which is under the jurisdiction of the Economic and Educational Opportunities Committee, will allow him to help prepare California workers for mid-career changes, his aides said. The selection was seen as a major vote of confidence in McKeon, who is beginning his second term in the House, by GOP leaders.

Moorhead, the senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee, will handle copyright and trade issues that are essential to the region’s entertainment and high-tech industries. Earlier, Moorhead had been bypassed for two chairmanships of full committees, a blow to the 11-term congressman.

Ceding power are Reps. Anthony Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills), Howard Berman (D-Mission Hills) and Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles), who will all give up their subcommittee chairmanships when the 104th Congress convenes next month.