Press Releases

After Marathon Markup, Committee Advances the INVEST in America Act, a Transformational Surface Transportation Bill to Move Nation’s Infrastructure into New Era

June 18, 2020

Washington, DC -After more than 24 hours of debate that included the consideration of 177 amendments, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act. The INVEST in America Act, the key piece of the House Democrats' infrastructure proposal, marks a significant departure from previous surface transportation reauthorization bills. It puts an emphasis on tackling the … Continue Reading


Chair DeFazio Statement from Full Committee Markup of the INVEST In America Act

June 17, 2020

Washington, 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 markup of the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act: Today, the Committee meets to consider H.R. 2, the "Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act." America's surface … Continue Reading


Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to hold Markup

June 12, 2020

Washington, DC- The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will hold a Full Committee markup Wednesday, June 17, at 10:00AM EDT to consider the following measure: Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to H.R. 2, the INVEST in America Act; Other matters cleared for consideration. Members will appear by videoconference or in person in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. Additional details can be found here once available. The markup will be livestreamed through … Continue Reading


COMMITTEE LEADERS DEMAND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EPA’S NON-ENFORCEMENT POLICY DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

June 11, 2020

Washington, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and Environment Chairwoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler following up on their April 21 letter demanding answers for the Agency's relaxation of enforcement laws during the coronavirus pandemic. In their April letter, the three … Continue Reading


Chair DeFazio Statement from Hearing on Impacts to Transportation Workers Amid COVID-19 Crisis

June 09, 2020

Washington, 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: "On the Front Lines: The Impacts of COVID-19 on Transportation Workers." Good afternoon and welcome. I want to begin today's hearing by recognizing the tragedy of George Floyd's death at the hands of a white Minneapolis, MN police officer fifteen days ago. Our nation watched his brutal murder … Continue Reading


Chair DeFazio Officially Introduces the INVEST in America Act as Support Builds for the Legislation

June 08, 2020

Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) last week officially introduced the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act during a pro forma session in the House. The INVEST in America Act, a 5-year, nearly $500 billion investment in our Nation's infrastructure, is a key component of the Moving Forward Framework that House Democrats released earlier this year. After … Continue Reading


Chair DeFazio Announces Full Committee Hearing on Impacts to Transportation Workers Amid COVID-19 Crisis

June 05, 2020

Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced the Full Committee will hold a hearing titled, "On the Front Lines: The Impacts of COVID-19 on Transportation Workers." Members and witnesses will appear by videoconference. Additional details, including witness lists, can be found here once available. The hearing will be streamed through the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee's YouTube page. HEARING … Continue Reading


Chairs DeFazio, Maloney Celebrate 100 Years of the Jones Act and its Role Enhancing National Security and Protecting U.S. Maritime Jobs

June 04, 2020

Washington, D.C. - 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) are marking the 100thAnniversary of the Jones Act, a fundamental piece of U.S. maritime policy that ensures that the transportation of merchandise between any two ports in the U.S. is done on vessels built, owned, and flagged in the U.S., and crewed by Americans mariners. The Jones … Continue Reading


Chairs DeFazio, Napolitano Slam Trump Administration’s Actions to Undermine Bedrock Environmental Laws Under Guise of ‘Economic Emergency’

June 04, 2020

Washington, 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) today responded to President Trump's Executive Order to waive critical environmental reviews due to the current economic downturn. The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment has jurisdiction over the water quality and Clean Water Act-related infrastructure programs of the U.S. Environmental … Continue Reading


Maloney, DeFazio, Connolly Statement on Acting DOT IG Refusal to Avoid Conflicts of Interest

June 04, 2020

Washington, D.C. (June 4, 2020)-Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, the Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, issued the following statement after Acting Inspector General Elliott told the Committees in a letter that he would not resign from his position as head of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety … Continue Reading


Committee Leaders Unveil the INVEST in America Act, a Transformational Surface Transportation Bill to Bring Nation’s Infrastructure into a New Era

June 03, 2020

Bill text | Factsheet| Bill Summary |Section-by-Section Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), released text of the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act, a key component of the Moving Forward Framework that House Democrats, led by Chair DeFazio, released earlier this year. The bill's original cosponsors are Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Chair … Continue Reading


Chairs DeFazio, Maloney Statements from Hearing on the Status of the Maritime Supply Chain During COVID-19

May 29, 2020

Washington, 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 Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) during today's hearing titled: "The Status of the U.S. Maritime Supply Chain During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Members and witnesses appeared by videoconference. Chair DeFazio: Thank you, Chairman Maloney, I commend you for … Continue Reading


Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation to Hold Videoconference Hearing on the Status of Maritime Supply Chain During COVID-19

May 26, 2020

Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, "The Status of the U.S. Maritime Supply Chain During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Members and witnesses will appear by videoconference. The Subcommittee will hear testimony from the American Association of Port Authorities, American … Continue Reading


Chairs Maloney, DeFazio, and Connolly Urge Immediate Reinstatement of Former DOT IG

May 19, 2020

Washington, D.C. (May 19, 2020)-Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, the Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, the Chair of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations, sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao opposing President Donald Trump's removal of former Acting Inspector General Mitch Behm and demanding he be reinstated … Continue Reading


Chair DeFazio Applauds Inclusion of T&I Provisions to Expand Protections for Frontline Workers and Families in Fourth Coronavirus Relief Package

May 15, 2020

Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "The Heroes Act," comprehensive legislation to provide relief to workers and families during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This legislation, led by House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, is the fourth in a series of relief packages related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and includes multiple provisions offered by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, including: Provisions to strengthen … Continue Reading


Chair DeFazio Applauds Temporary Change that Allows Congress to Conduct Business Remotely During the National Emergency

May 15, 2020

Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved H. Res. 965, which allows Congress to temporarily conduct virtual committee proceedings and implement remote voting on the House floor during the COVID-19 pandemic: "Ever since President Trump declared a national emergency concerning COVID-19 more than two months ago, workplaces across our … Continue Reading


Chair DeFazio Presses U.S. Airlines to Apply Social Distancing Policies Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

May 14, 2020

Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) called on U.S. airlines to make better efforts to apply social distancing policies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, after multiple reports of increasingly full commercial flights. In letters to the major U.S. airlines' trade associations, DeFazio wrote that he understands the financial strain placed on airlines during this time, but stresses that despite the lack of direction … Continue Reading


Homeland Security, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Leaders Urge DOT & DHS Establish an Aviation Working Group to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic

May 09, 2020

May 8, 2020 (WASHINGTON) - Leaders of the Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to urge them to establish an interagency working group to develop robust, coordinated plans to address COVID-19 in aviation operations. The Members believe that establishing health, safety, and security standards are necessary to restore public confidence in travel. In the absence of … Continue Reading


T&I Committee Hosts Bipartisan Virtual Forum on the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Maritime Transportation

May 08, 2020

Washington, DC - Today, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Members participated in a virtual forum to hear from Maritime Administrator Admiral Mark H. Buzby (Ret.) about the maritime industry's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the steps being taken to protect workers on ships and at docks from infection, and operational and logistical challenges the maritime industry has encountered thus far. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee has been working remotely to … Continue Reading


Chairs DeFazio, Napolitano Introduce Legislation to Block Implementation of Trump’s Dirty Water Rule

May 08, 2020

Trump's Dirty Water Rule would roll back bipartisan clean water protections for streams, rivers, and wetlands, jeopardizing access to clean water for millions of Americans in the middle of a global pandemic Washington, D.C. - 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) introduced the Clean Water for All Act, which would prohibit the implementation of … Continue Reading