Press Releases
Group of House Democrats Pushing for FEMA Cost-Share Reimbursement Applaud President Biden’s Latest Action That Will Help Communities Across the Country
February 02, 2021By retroactively reimbursing state, local, tribal, and territorial governments for costs tied to their COVID-19 response dating back to January 2020, the Biden administration is going above and beyond to provide much-needed financial relief to communities President Biden's executive action comes after House Democrats urged the Biden administration to waive all Federal cost-share requirements for pandemic response assistance provided by FEMA WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House … Continue Reading
ICYMI: DeFazio Discusses His Transformational Infrastructure Legislation During The Hill’s “Reset 2021: A New American Start”
February 02, 2021WASHINGTON- As part of The Hill's virtual panel titled, "Reset 2021: A New American Start," Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) spoke with The Hill's Editor-at-Large Steve Clemons about his vision for rebuilding America's infrastructure. Chair DeFazio discussed his legislation, the Moving Forward Act, which would create millions of good-paying American jobs while cutting carbon pollution from the transportation sector and making our … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Napolitano Urge President Biden to Repeal Trump’s Rollback of Federal Clean Water Protections
February 02, 2021In a new letter, DeFazio and Napolitano praise President Biden for revoking multiple Executive Orders of the Trump administration that were harmful to public health and the environment and ask him to go one step further T&I Chairs to Biden: "…the Trump Dirty Water Rule is a fatally flawed proposal, with no basis in the law, no basis in the science, and a blatant giveaway to polluters. It must simply and immediately be repealed" Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on … Continue Reading
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chair DeFazio Announces Organizational Meeting and First Hearing of the 117th Congress
January 29, 2021Hearing will examine gaps in protecting transportation workers and passengers from COVID-19, lessons learned thus far from the Federal government's COVID response, and next steps Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced the organizational meeting and first committee hearing of the 117th Congress titled, "Protecting Transportation Workers and Passengers from COVID: Gaps in Safety, Lessons Learned, and Next … Continue Reading
T&I Chairs Praise Biden Climate Orders and Urge Swift Adoption of Water Infrastructure Legislation to Meet Resiliency and Equity Goals
January 27, 2021Washington, DC - Today, 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 praising President Biden for his Executive Orders on Climate and Science that prioritize modern and resilient infrastructure as well as environmental justice. The Chairs also urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to swiftly implement key provisions … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Announces Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee Chairs and Democratic Committee Roster
January 26, 2021Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced the Committee's Democratic roster for the 117th Congress, as well as the six subcommittee chairs and the full Committee Vice Chair, all of whom were approved by the Democrats on the Committee. In total, there will be 37 Democrats serving on the Committee, 36 of whom are named below. One spot remains open, pending selection by the House Democratic Steering and Policy … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Cheers President Biden’s Actions to Promote and Protect American Jobs and Manufacturing
January 25, 2021DeFazio: "If implemented correctly, this is exactly how we put millions of people to work and Build Back Better" WASHINGTON-Rep. Peter DeFazio, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced a new executive order to bolster American manufacturing and job creation by strengthening Buy America requirements, among other things. "With today's White House order to support American workers and boost … Continue Reading
DeFazio and Napolitano Applaud President Biden for Prioritizing Review of Trump Environmental Rollbacks as Part of Day One Executive Order
January 21, 2021Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) released the following statements applauding President Biden for prioritizing Federal agency scrutiny of the Trump administration's "Dirty Water Rule" and gutting of the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as part of the President's Executive Order titled, "Protecting Public Health and the … Continue Reading
DeFazio and Malinowski Applaud President Biden for Prioritizing Scrutiny of Reckless Trump Rule to Permit LNG Transport by Rail Tank Car
January 21, 2021Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Representative Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) released the following statements in response to President Biden prioritizing Department of Transportation scrutiny of the Trump administration's rule to permit the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail tank car as part of the President's Executive Order titled, "Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to … Continue Reading
DeFazio Leads Colleagues on Letter Urging President-Elect Biden to Take Action to Help Communities Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic
January 15, 2021By waiving all Federal FEMA cost-share requirements tied to pandemic response, the Biden administration can lessen the financial burden on state, local, tribal, and territorial governments that are seeing budgets stretched thin due to the ongoing pandemic House Members to Biden: "Other than the American death toll of World War II, this pandemic and the exponential growth in infections and fatalities are unlike any other events our nation has experienced since the 1918 influenza … Continue Reading
DeFazio and Larsen Encourage FAA Administrator to Use the Full Weight of Federal Law to Protect Airline Passengers and Crews Ahead of Inauguration
January 11, 2021After last week's deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, groups are reportedly planning to return to D.C. next week to sow discord Among other things, DeFazio and Larsen urge the FAA Administrator to both pursue stiff civil penalties against those who interfere with crewmembers' duties, as well as refer violations to the Department of Justice and other authorities Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement on Boeing’s $2.5 Billion Settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice
January 07, 2021Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement: "This settlement amounts to a slap on the wrist and is an insult to the 346 victims who died as a result of corporate greed. Not only is the dollar amount of the settlement a mere fraction of Boeing's annual revenue, the settlement sidesteps any real accountability in terms of criminal charges. My Committee's investigation revealed numerous opportunities for … Continue Reading
Statement from Chair DeFazio on Resignation of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao
January 07, 2021WASHINGTON - Rep. Peter DeFazio, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today released the following statement after Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced her resignation: "In announcing her resignation, Secretary Chao stated that she was troubled by the traumatic and avoidable events that transpired at the Capitol yesterday. On that, she and I agree very much-and while I believe she could send a stronger signal by joining efforts to invoke the 25th … Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Commend Passage of Pipeline Safety Legislation
December 22, 2020WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Tammy Duckworth, D- Ill., chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, along with Reps. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Sam Graves, R-Mo., chairman and ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Reps. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and … Continue Reading
Chair Peter DeFazio Resolves Decades-Long Fight and Frees Up Billions of Dollars for Harbor Maintenance
December 22, 2020WASHINGTON-Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement after passage of his bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2020, which includes his provision to ensure that Harbor Maintenance funds are actually used for harbor maintenance. This measure now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. "This is a tremendous victory for Oregon's coastal communities. For decades, I have fought to unlock the Harbor … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Applauds New Round of Aid for the Hard-Hit Transportation Sector in Omnibus and COVID Relief Legislation
December 22, 2020The wide-ranging package includes key pieces of legislation championed by Chair DeFazio, from aircraft certification reform to the Water Resources Development Act, and more Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) applauded final passage of a wide-ranging spending bill that includes much-needed aid for the transportation sector, including an extension of the highly-successful Payroll Support Program for aviation employees, as … Continue Reading
House T&I and Senate Commerce Committee Leaders Applaud Passage of Comprehensive Aircraft Certification Reform and Safety Legislation
December 22, 2020The Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act builds upon bipartisan bills passed last month in the House and Senate Commerce Committee Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) joined Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to applaud final passage of historic and comprehensive … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Graves, Napolitano, and Westerman Applaud Passage of Bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2020 in Omnibus Legislation
December 21, 2020WRDA 2020 was approved by the House as part of the year-end legislative package and now heads to the Senate Washington, D.C. - Tonight, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-AR) applauded the House for approving the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA) as … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement on Railroads Meeting Deadline for Full PTC Implementation
December 18, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement in response to the news that all freight, Amtrak, intercity, and commuter railroads will meet the December 31, 2020 deadline for implementing positive train control (PTC): "The announcement that all freight, Amtrak, intercity and commuter railroads will meet the deadline for implementing positive train control is a major win for public safety-one that … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Napolitano, Beyer, and Carper File Amicus Brief over Trump Administration’s “Dirty Water Rule”
December 16, 2020WASHINGTON, D.C. - 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), Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Tom Carper (D-DE) submitted an amicus brief on behalf of 74 current Members of Congress and three former Members to the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts in the case of Conservation Law … Continue Reading