Press Releases
Committee Chairs Urge President Biden to Delay Implementation of Flawed Trump-era Army Corps Permitting Rule
March 17, 2021Chairs DeFazio and Carper to President Biden: "We now urge you to direct the Corps to delay implementation of the Trump administration's nationwide permits rulemaking before it causes lasting damage to the health of our families, our environment, and our vital water resources" Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Tom Carper (D-DE) called on President Joe Biden … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Titus Re-Submit Records Request Related to Trump Hotel Lease at the Old Post Office Building
March 16, 2021Under the Trump Administration, the Committee's requests for financial records and legal memos on the president's lease went unfulfilled for years, preventing the Committee from carrying out its oversight duty of leases at federally owned properties WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Dina Titus (D-NV) asked the … Continue Reading
Chairmen Neal and DeFazio Announce Members’ Day Hearings
March 16, 2021Ways & Means Committee and Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will hold hearings to hear Members' priorities on infrastructure SPRINGFIELD, MA-- House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced today a series of Members' Day Hearings. The Committees welcome Member testimony on legislation within each Committee's jurisdiction and specifically encourages testimony regarding … Continue Reading
Thompson, DeFazio, Roybal-Allard, LaMalfa and Panetta Introduce the Increase Federal Disaster Cost Share Act
March 16, 2021Bill boosts federal share of disaster costs to 90 percent Washington - Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05), House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) introduced the Increase Federal Disaster Cost Share Act. This bipartisan bill would boost the Federal cost share from 75 to 90 percent for any federally declared disasters in 2020. Thompson was joined by original coauthors … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Napolitano, and Fitzpatrick to Introduce Legislation to Help Communities Across the Country Upgrade Their Wastewater Infrastructure and Address Local Water Quality Challenges
March 16, 2021The Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021 provides an infusion of Federal assistance for the construction, repair, and replacement of the Nation's network of wastewater and stormwater conveyance and treatment facilities This bipartisan bill is supported by municipalities, environmental organizations, labor, and small businesses Fact Sheet | Section by Section| Bill Text Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Titus Announce Subcommittee Hearing on the Benefits of Investing in Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Programs to Reduce Costs and Impacts on U.S. Communities
March 12, 2021Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Dina Titus (D-NV) announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, "Building Smarter: The Benefits of Investing in Resilience and Mitigation." This hearing will examine the pre- and post- disaster mitigation assistance programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Announces Full Committee Hearing on the Business Case for Climate Solutions
March 12, 2021Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced a full Committee hearing titled, "The Business Case for Climate Solutions." The hearing will explore private sector actions to develop and implement solutions to climate change, with an emphasis on the surface transportation sector. More information about the hearing, including witness testimony and a livestream, can be found here once available. HEARING DETAILS The … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Calls on FAA to Extend Enforcement of “Zero Tolerance” Policy on Unruly and Mask-Flouting Passengers
March 11, 2021DeFazio to FAA Administrator: "I respectfully implore you to continue that policy until public health officials determine that mass vaccinations have eliminated the risk of infection with the coronavirus inside an enclosed space such as an airplane cabin" Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) not to sunset its "zero tolerance" enforcement policy with respect to … Continue Reading
Huffman, DeFazio Urge Biden EPA to Protect Bristol Bay from Pebble Mine
March 11, 2021Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Chair of the Natural Resources Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee and member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan urging him to use his authorities granted by the Clean Water Act to protect Bristol Bay, Alaska, from the … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement on Final House Passage of the American Rescue Plan: “Help is Truly on the Way”
March 10, 2021Washington, DC- Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the American Rescue Plan and sent the legislation to President Biden to be signed into law. "With this final vote in the House to approve the American Rescue Plan, the American people can rest assured that help is truly on the way," Chair DeFazio said. "I am proud of the role my Committee and our Members … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Payne Statements from Hearing on the Relevance of Rail for U.S. Economic and Environmental Progress
March 10, 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) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) during today's hearing titled, "Full Steam Ahead for Rail: Why Rail is More Relevant Than Ever for Economic and Environmental Progress." Videos of DeFazio and Payne's opening statements are here and here. More … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Larsen Mark Anniversary of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Crash
March 10, 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) observed the second anniversary of the deadly crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302. All 157 people onboard died when the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. It was the second crash of a Boeing 737 MAX within a five-month span. In October 2018, Lion Air flight … Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Urge Protection of American Shippers from Unjust Shipping Practices Resulting from COVID-19 Pandemic
March 08, 2021Washington, DC - Today, bipartisan leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation called on the Federal Maritime Commission to ensure that ocean carriers are abiding by U.S. law and are not engaging in unjust and unreasonable shipping practices resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), Subcommittee on … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Payne Announce Subcommittee Hearing on the Relevance of Rail for U.S. Economic and Environmental Progress
March 05, 2021Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, "Full Steam Ahead for Rail: Why Rail is More Relevant Than Ever for Economic and Environmental Progress." This is the first Subcommittee hearing that newly elected Chair Payne will preside over. More information about the … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement on Infrastructure Meeting at White House
March 04, 2021WASHINGTON-Rep. Peter DeFazio, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the following statement after today's bipartisan meeting at the White House to discuss infrastructure. "I thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary Buttigieg for convening today's bipartisan meeting in the Oval Office to chart a path forward on an infrastructure bill. It is a critically important conversation to have, and timely as I intend to move a surface … Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Release DOT Inspector General’s Ethics Report on Former Secretary Elaine Chao
March 03, 2021Washington, D.C.- Today, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) released the report from the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG) ethics investigation into former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. Both Chairs requested the investigation in 2019 amid public reports that raised questions about the former Secretary's actions … Continue Reading
Ahead of Introduction of Surface Transportation Legislation, Chairs DeFazio and Norton Announce New Process for Members of Congress to Submit Their Project Priorities
March 03, 2021WASHINGTON, DC-As the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure prepares to advance surface transportation authorization legislation this spring, Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced the Committee will provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to submit requests for highway and transit project designations. A formal process to do so will be announced later this month. In … Continue Reading
VIDEO: Chair DeFazio Stresses the Need for Significant Federal Investment in U.S. Infrastructure After Newly Released ‘Report Card’ Shows Little Improvement
March 03, 2021New report from the American Society of Civil Engineers gives America's infrastructure a C- T&I Chair DeFazio: "This is not acceptable. The States can't go it alone. The cities can't go it alone. They need a Federal partner." Washington, DC- Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) renewed his call for passing a transformational infrastructure bill in the new Congress after the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave U.S. … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Larsen Statements from Hearing on COVID-19’s Effects on the U.S. Aviation Sector
March 02, 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) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) during today's hearing titled, "COVID-19's Effects on U.S. Aviation and the Flight Path to Recovery." Videos of DeFazio and Larsen's opening statements are here and here. More information on the hearing can be found here. Chair DeFazio: Thank you, Chair Larsen, … Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Highlight Need for Updated U.S. Coast Guard Fleet Mix Analysis
March 01, 2021Washington, DC - The bipartisan leadership of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee stressed to the U.S. Coast Guard the importance of an updated analysis of its fleet capabilities. Congress required the Service to provide an updated analysis, given the most recent version is outdated and no longer reflects current threats, missions, or recent experiences involving construction of new cutters. Transportation and … Continue Reading