Greg Walden (Ore.), the former Republican chair of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee, yesterday launched his own public policy and political strategy firm in partnership with one of Washington’s top lobbying firms.
Walden and the Alpine Group jointly announced the creation of Alpine Advisors, with Walden as its chairman, on Feb. 22. They said Alpine Advisors “will service a wide range of clients, with a particular focus on the energy, technology, telecommunications and health care sectors.”
“I look forward to this next chapter in my life and continuing to work on the issues that matter to me and to the country,” Walden said. “I’m excited that this role will allow me to remain focused on innovative ideas to solve the many complex and challenging issues our nation faces.”
Walden retired from Congress in January at the end of his 11th term in the U.S. House. He chaired the E&C Committee, which has jurisdiction over the 340B program, in 2017 and 2018. During his time as chair, he and fellow E&C Republicans held hearings, commissioned watchdog agency reports, wrote their own report, and floated or introduced dozens of bills related to health care providers’ participation in 340B. The overriding GOP theme was that 340B program growth is outpacing the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s ability to effectively oversee the program. The bills, which did not make it into law, were perceived to be pharmaceutical industry friendly and received significant pushback from the 340B provider community, particularly hospitals in the 340B program.
