Press Releases
Chairs DeFazio, Larsen Announce Subcommittee Hearing on the Surge in Air Rage and its Effects on Workers, Airlines, and Airports
September 17, 2021Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) announced the subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, "Disruption in the Skies: The Surge in Air Rage and its Effects on Workers, Airlines, and Airports." The hearing will examine the alarming increase in disruptive and unruly airline passengers, the causes, the effect on passenger and crew safety, and the enforcement of … Continue Reading
After a More Than 15-Hour Markup, Committee Advances Legislation to Invest in More Equitable and Sustainable Transportation Systems and Infrastructure
September 15, 2021Washington, DC - The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, led by Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), today advanced legislation in a vote of 37-29 to invest nearly $60 billion to make America's infrastructure more sustainable, resilient, and equitable, and to reduce carbon pollution from the transportation sector-the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. "From tackling climate change, to addressing racial and environmental injustices, to building back … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Opening Statement from Committee Markup of the Build Back Better Act
September 14, 2021Washington, D.C. - The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) during today's committee markup to consider the committee's portion of the Build Back Better Act. Video of DeFazio's opening statement is here. More information on the markup can be found here. Chair DeFazio: Today, we are here to deliver for the American people. We are here to Build Back Better with critical investments … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Napolitano, and Pappas Applaud the EPA’s Plans to Limit Discharge of “Forever Chemicals” While Calling for the Agency to Go Further to Protect Public Health
September 10, 2021Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will begin rewriting safeguards against polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," in wastewater pollution to better protect public health and the environment. Specifically, the agency plans to revise its effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) and pretreatment standards in the organic chemicals, plastics and synthetic fibers category to address PFAS from industrial … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Huffman Applaud the EPA for Taking New Action to Protect Bristol Bay from the Pebble Mine Project
September 10, 2021Washington, D.C. - Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Jared Huffman (D-CA), Chair of the Natural Resources Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee released the following statements in response to yesterday's EPA action on Bristol Bay. "The Pebble Mine proposal was always a bad idea, and I am relieved the Biden EPA is finally taking steps to protect the indigenous and fishing communities that rely on the world's largest … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Napolitano, and Beyer Lead 130+ House Colleagues in Applauding the EPA & Corps for Withdrawing the Trump Dirty Water Rule, Call New Rulemaking Urgent
September 10, 2021In a new letter, representatives call for the swift replacement of the Dirty Water Rule: "Now that the Court has thrown out this blatant giveaway to polluters, we call upon you to take immediate action to protect our nation's waterways for future generations." Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Chair of the Joint Economic … Continue Reading
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Announces Markup
September 10, 2021Washington, DC - Today, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure announced that it will hold a markup on Tuesday, September 14 at 10:00 AM EDT to consider the following measures: Legislative proposals to comply with the reconciliation directive included in section 2002 of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, S. Con. Res. 14 Other matters cleared for consideration. Members will appear by videoconference or in person in 2167 Rayburn House Office … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Applauds Surface Transportation Board for Unanimously Rejecting the Proposed Canadian National and Kansas City Southern Trust
September 01, 2021Washington, D.C. - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement after the Surface Transportation Board (STB) voted unanimously to reject a proposed trust as a precursor to the merger of the Canadian National (CN) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroads, citing concerns that the trust is not in the public interest. Chair DeFazio made the same point in a July 2021 letter he sent to the STB expressing his opposition to the … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Napolitano Statements on Federal Judge Overturning Trump-era Dirty Water Rule
August 31, 2021Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) released the following statements after a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona overturned the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule, more commonly known as the "Dirty Water Rule." "This ruling is a major win for the millions of Americans that rely on clean rivers, … Continue Reading
House Committee Chairs Release Statement on GAO Report on Keystone Pipeline Safety Concerns
August 23, 2021Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that examined the safety performance … Continue Reading
T&I Committee Leaders Ask GAO to Review Delays in Delivery of Critical Additions to Coast Guard Fleet
August 16, 2021WASHINGTON, DC-Today, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the significant delivery delays of the Offshore Patrol and Polar Security Cutters, as well as related budgetary issues. The Offshore Patrol Cutter fleet is the largest vessel procurement the Coast Guard has undertaken, and Polar Security Cutter acquisition is the most complex. In a pair of … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement on Senate Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
August 10, 2021WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement after the Senate passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill: "Throughout my career, I have consistently advocated for increased federal investment in America's infrastructure. By investing in our infrastructure, we can create good-paying jobs, support American manufacturing, stop sending jobs to China and strengthen the economy. With today's passage of a … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Calls on FAA to Address Surge in Unruly Passengers
August 06, 2021WASHINGTON-Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responding to the dramatic rise in air rage incidents over the last several months. In his letter, DeFazio stated that the dramatic increase in airline passengers assaulting other passengers as well as crewmembers requires a strong federal response. "The violent, disruptive behavior that we've seen on airplanes this year must not … Continue Reading
ICYMI: During CNN Interviews, Chair DeFazio Underscores the Importance of Transformational Infrastructure Policies: Bill Must “Actually Begin to Deal with Current Problems”
August 04, 2021Chair DeFazio joins CNN's Kate Bolduan to discuss making transformational investments in America's infrastructure WASHINGTON, DC- This week, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) joined CNN's Jessica Dean on CNN Newsroom and Kate Bolduan on At This Hour to discuss the need for Congress to include transformational investments and policies in any infrastructure legislation that gets sent to the president's desk. During his interviews, Chair … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement from Committee Hearing to Assess the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Relief and Response Efforts
July 29, 2021Washington, D.C. - The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) during today's hearing titled, "Assessing the Federal Government's COVID-19 Relief and Response Efforts and its Impact." Video of DeFazio's opening statement is here. More information on the hearing can be found here. Chair DeFazio: Today we will hear about the impact the government's COVID-19 relief funding has had on the … Continue Reading
T&I Committee Advances Multiple Bills During Markup, Including Legislation to Prevent a Race to the Bottom in International Civil Aviation
July 28, 2021Washington, DC - The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved a slate of measures during a committee markup today, including bipartisan legislation led by Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) to preclude new foreign airlines from operating to and from the United States that exploit "flags of convenience" to avoid the regulations of their home countries, or otherwise undermine labor standards. The legislation is now ready for consideration on the House floor. "As Americans start to … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Napolitano Applaud the Biden EPA’s Move to Strengthen Clean Water Protections Against Pollution from Coal-Fired Power Plants
July 27, 2021Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) released the following statements after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it would set stricter limits on the discharge of wastewater from coal-fired power plants, which often contains toxic metals such as arsenic and mercury that contaminate lakes, rivers, and streams near … Continue Reading
T&I Chair DeFazio Challenges Proposed Canadian National and Kansas City Southern Railroad Merger Trust
July 26, 2021Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) opposing the approval of a trust for the proposed merger of the Canadian National (CN) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroads. In his letter, DeFazio stated that approving the trust is not in the public interest and would reduce competition. "A single holding company responsible for this traffic would likely change rail … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Introduces Legislation to Name the Department of Transportation After Secretary Norman Yoshio Mineta
July 26, 2021Washington, DC-Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced legislation to name the federal building located at 1200 New Jersey Avenue Southeast in Washington, DC, which houses the U.S. Department of Transportation, as the "Norman Yoshio Mineta Federal Building." In introducing this bill, Chair DeFazio said: "Secretary Mineta is a great American patriot who has continuously answered the call of public service. As the longest serving … Continue Reading
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to Hold Markup
July 26, 2021Washington, DC - The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will hold a markup on Wednesday, July 28, at 11:00 a.m. EDT to consider the following measures: H.R. 3095, Fair and Open Skies Act Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to H.R. 1339, Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act H.R. 3193, E-BRIDGE Act H.R. 3037, Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2021 H.R. 3709, Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2021 H.R. __, to designate … Continue Reading