Press Releases
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
Rep. Peter DeFazio Applauds Nomination of Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation
December 15, 2020Washington, DC - Tonight, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement after President-elect Joe Biden announced the nomination of Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation: "Pete Buttigieg is a strong choice to lead the Biden administration's efforts to 'Build Back Better' with infrastructure plans that not only move our country into the modern era, but also generate the economic activity that this country so … Continue Reading
T&I Leaders Call on CDC and HHS to Deliver Documents Related to Cruise Line Safety Amid COVID-19 First Requested Seven Months Ago
December 10, 2020Thousands of documents have been identified as potentially responsive, but have yet to be transmitted to Committee Washington, D.C. - Today, the Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) called on the leaders of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to deliver COVID-related … Continue Reading
T&I Committee Leaders Press U.S. Coast Guard to Adopt NAS Recommendations on Unmanned Systems
December 10, 2020Members urge Commandant Admiral Schultz to adopt National Academy of Sciences recommendations to increase the Coast Guard's unmanned system capacity Washington, D.C. - Today, the Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Full Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), and Subcommittee … Continue Reading
T&I’s Bipartisan Bills to Support the U.S. Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration Clear the House as Part of NDAA
December 08, 2020Coast Guard Reauthorization includes increased funding for Polar Security Cutters, Fast Response Cutters, and shore infrastructure and facility maintenance needs New MARAD provision helps ensure reliability of the U.S. Maritime Transportation System during the event of a national emergency or disaster, including the current COVID-19 public health emergency Washington, D.C. - … Continue Reading
VIDEO: Chair DeFazio Manages Floor Debate on the Water Resources Development Act of 2020
December 08, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) managed debate as the U.S. House of Representatives considered the bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020). "The bill under consideration today was developed in a bipartisan, bicameral manner, with input and ideas from both sides of the aisle," Chair DeFazio said in his remarks. "This legislation builds on the successes of H.R. … Continue Reading
T&I Committee Leaders Applaud House Passage of Bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2020
December 08, 2020WRDA 2020 now heads to the U.S. Senate for a final vote, the last step before the bill goes to the President's desk to be signed into law Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Sam Graves (R-MO), Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Calls on FCC to Postpone Tomorrow’s Scheduled Auction of a Portion of 3.7-4.2 GHz Radio Frequency Spectrum, Citing New Research That Amplifies the Safety Concerns of the Aviation Community
December 07, 2020Washington, D.C. -Citing new research into the safety of reallocating spectrum band neighboring a globally-allocated and longstanding aviation frequency band, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to postpone its plan to auction off a portion of the 3.7-4.2 GHz spectrum band to private interests starting tomorrow.Chair DeFazio first brought safety concerns to the FCC's attention more than a … Continue Reading
Rep. Peter DeFazio Selected by Colleagues to Return as Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
December 03, 2020Washington, DC - After being selected to return as Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 117th Congress, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement: "From the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic seaboard, the work of the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee touches every corner of America. Modernizing our infrastructure is critical to strengthening the economy, creating and sustaining millions of jobs, fostering safer and more … Continue Reading
Carper, DeFazio, and Grijalva File Amicus Brief over NEPA Rule Changes by the Trump Administration
December 01, 2020WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, in the case of Wild Virginia v. Council on Environmental Quality. The … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves Mourn the Passing of TTD President Larry Willis
November 30, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Committee Sam Graves (R-MO) released the following statements on the passing of Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Larry Willis: "My heart goes out to Larry's wife and daughter as well as the entire labor community, which has long known Larry as someone who dedicated his life to improving working conditions for millions of people," … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Napolitano Issue Statements on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Decision on the Pebble Mine Project
November 25, 2020Washington, 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 after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced its decision on the Pebble Mine Project in Bristol Bay, Alaska, denying the permit. Chair DeFazio: “Today’s decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is great news for the Bristol Bay … Continue Reading
House Chairs Seek Accounting of Political Appointees Burrowing into Career Positions at Dozens of Agencies
November 25, 2020Chairs Also Seek Information on Civil Service Jobs Being Reclassified Under Harmful New Trump Executive Order Washington, D.C. (Nov. 25, 2020)-Today, House Committee Chairs sent a letter to 61 federal agencies requesting information on conversions of political appointees to civil service positions during the Trump Administration. "Protecting the nonpartisan expertise of the career civil service is essential to the safety and security of the American people," the Chairs wrote. "The merit … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Larsen Urge GAO to Study the Risks of Air Travel During a Public Health Crisis
November 25, 2020GAO reviews could help inform future Federal response and legislation Beating COVID-19 is not the only concern; within the last two decades, there have been five other major public health epidemics with global ramifications, demonstrating the need to prepare for future outbreaks Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) have made a formal request to the U.S. … Continue Reading
T&I Chairs Press Pebble Limited Partnership and Army Corps for Records after Secret “Pebble Tapes” Reveal Company’s Contradictory Claims about the Mine Project’s Size and Duration
November 20, 2020Members request records regarding any plans by Pebble to expand its proposed Pebble Mine beyond what it submitted to the Army Corps in its 2017 permit application In the Members' request: "Pebble was dealing with two sets of facts, one to lure potential investors to the Pebble project and one to alleviate fears of Alaskan Natives, the U.S. Congress and Federal agencies..." Washington, D.C. - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Lipinski Statements from Hearing on “Examining the Surface Transportation Board’s Role in Ensuring a Robust Passenger Rail System”
November 18, 2020Washington, 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 Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) during today's hearing titled: "Examining the Surface Transportation Board's Role in Ensuring a Robust Passenger Rail System." A recording of today's hearing can be found here. Chair DeFazio: Thank you, Chairman Lipinski … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Larsen Statements on the FAA’s Decision to Unground the Boeing 737 MAX
November 18, 2020Washington, 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) released the following statements: Chair DeFazio: "While Congress has no direct role in today's decision, I am grateful that the FAA last year agreed to the request from Chair Larsen and myself to stand up an independent panel of experts-the Technical Advisory Board, or TAB-to review Boeing's proposed changes to the 737 … Continue Reading
T&I Committee Leaders Criticize Final FCC Vote to Reallocate Part of 5.9 GHz Spectrum Band
November 18, 2020Chair DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves join safety advocates, the U.S. Department of Transportation and state transportation agencies in all 50 states in expressing serious concerns over FCC plan to share "safety band" spectrum with unlicensed operations. Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Sam Graves (R-MO) criticized the Federal … Continue Reading