Northstate Congressman Doug LaMalfa has a gavel in his hand for the first time, having been placed in charge of native american issues. As part of LaMalfa’s assignment to the House Natural Resources Committee, he’s been given the chairmanship of the subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native affairs. It’s the first subcommittee that LaMalfa has chaired since his arrival in Washington, D.C. following the retirement of Wally Herger. LaNalfa is also assigned to the Natural Resources Subcommittee on water, power and oceans. In the Agriculture Committee LaMalfa is assigned to a subcommittee on commodity exchanges, energy and credit and a subcommittee on conservation and forestry. LaMalfa has three subcommittee assignments under the transportation and infrastructure committee: those panels will address water resources and development, aviation and highway and transit. LaMalfa says he’s looking forward to protecting and creating rural jobs, as well as improving highways and water storage.