Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden has been elected to the House Republican Steering Committee as the representative on the panel for western states. The committee will determine leadership and upcoming policy priorities for Republicans. Walden says he will advocate for policies that address the challenges faced in the West. Among those are federal forest policy improvements to reduce the risk of wildfires, bring local input to public land management decisions, and ensuring farming, ranching, and rural communities can thrive. Walden will represent Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming on the panel.