Press Releases
Opening Statements from Chairs DeFazio, Norton and Larsen from Hearing on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
September 23, 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), Chair of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) during today's hearing titled: "Driving Equity: The U.S. Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program." Chair DeFazio: Today's hearing is focused on the … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves Issue Statements on One-Year Surface Transportation Extension included in CR
September 21, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) released the following statements after Congressional leaders unveiled a Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY2021, which includes a one-year extension of current surface transportation authorization funding levels: "While we had hoped to reach an agreement between the House and the Senate this year on a modern, multi-year surface transportation … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Larsen: Newly Released Office of Inspector General Report Highlights Serious Concerns About Current Airplane Evacuation Standards
September 18, 2020According to the OIG report, the most recent update to FAA standards was based on an accident that occurred nearly 30 years ago Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee Rick Larsen (D-WA) called attention to a new audit from the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG), which examined whether the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is effectively ensuring … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Napolitano Announce Subcommittee Hearing on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and Water Management in Florida
September 18, 2020Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Grace Napolitano (D-CA) announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, "The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and Water Management in Florida." Members will appear by videoconference or in person in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. Additional details, including witness lists, can be found here once … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Announces Hearing on the U.S. DOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
September 18, 2020Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced a Full Committee hearing titled, "Driving Equity: The U.S. Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program." Members will appear by videoconference or in person in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. Additional details, including witness lists, can be found here once available. The hearing will be livestreamed through the House Transportation and … Continue Reading
After 18-Month Investigation, Chairs DeFazio and Larsen Release Final Committee Report on Boeing 737 MAX
September 16, 2020From the Report: "The MAX crashes were… a horrific culmination of a series of faulty technical assumptions by Boeing's engineers, a lack of transparency on the part of Boeing's management, and grossly insufficient oversight by the FAA" Washington, D.C. - 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 Committee's final report on the Boeing 737 MAX. This report, … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Thompson, Titus, Lowey, and Roybal-Allard Introduce Legislation to Reduce Financial Burdens on States and Communities Facing Emergencies, including Wildfires and Hurricanes, amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
September 16, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA), Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Dina Titus (D-NV), Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) introduced legislation to adjust the Federal cost share of certain … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Lipinski, and Wexton Applaud Amtrak President and CEO William Flynn for Committing to Not Send Jobs Overseas
September 11, 2020In announcing his decision, Flynn credited a recent letter sent by DeFazio, Lipinski, and Wexton for bringing the matter to his attention Flynn's commitment came in response to questioning by Rep. Stephen Lynch during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Hearing Washington, D.C. - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), and … Continue Reading
Huffman, DeFazio Announce Essential Air Service Agreement for Crescent City
September 11, 2020San Rafael, CA - Today, Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, shared the announcement that the U.S. Department of Transportation has approved the application submitted by the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority on behalf of the community of Crescent City, California, for the continuation of service provided under the current Alternate Essential Air Service grant to Contour Airlines. "As is often the … Continue Reading
In Letter to National Archives Watchdog, Chairs DeFazio and Napolitano Request Investigation into Destruction of Records by the Trump EPA
September 09, 2020DeFazio and Napolitano to National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) OIG: "We are concerned that EPA's destruction of documents and records may leave Americans in the dark about the quality of their waterways and environment" Washington, D.C. - 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)-which has jurisdiction over several U.S. Environmental … Continue Reading
Chair Lipinski Opening Remarks from Hearing on Amtrak’s Response to COVID-19
September 09, 2020Washington, D.C. - The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) during today's hearing titled: "Amtrak's Response to COVID-19." Chair Lipinski: Good morning. I want to welcome everyone to today's Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee's hearing on Amtrak's response to COVID-19. As you can see, we are doing a hybrid hearing today with most members and … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Lipinski and Wexton Call Out Amtrak for Attempting to Send Work Overseas
September 08, 2020The current Request for Proposal for eCommerce and Mobile Development would allow certain work to be offshored Members of Congress express outrage over RFP: "While Amtrak's employees have always been vital to the company's success, recent months have shown just how essential these workers are to keeping our country moving forward" Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Lipinski Announce Subcommittee Hearing on Amtrak’s Response to COVID-19
September 04, 2020Washington, 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 Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, "Amtrak's Response to COVID-19." Members will appear by videoconference or in person in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. Additional details, including witness lists, can be found here once available. The hearing will be … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Lipinski Statements on Amtrak Announcing Furloughs of Over 2,000 Workers Due to COVID-19 Crisis
September 02, 2020Washington, DC - 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) issued the following statements in response to the news that Amtrak will furlough over 2,000 workers due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as part of its Fiscal Year 2021 Workforce Plan: "This week, another 2,000 workers learned that they will be losing their jobs due to the effects of … Continue Reading
Huffman, DeFazio Urge EPA Administrator to Protect Bristol Bay from Pebble Mine
September 01, 2020San Rafael, CA - Yesterday, Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Chair of the Natural Resources Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee and member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging him to use his authority to veto the flawed Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Pebble Mine on the … Continue Reading
Chairwoman Titus Demands Answers from Trump Administration Over its Attempt to Dictate Architectural Style of Federal Buildings and Courthouses in Communities Across the U.S.
August 26, 2020Washington, DC - Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Dina Titus (D-NV) is demanding answers from the head of the General Services Administration (GSA) about newly-released criteria for construction, which call for two new courthouses-in Florida and Alabama-to be built in the "classic architectural style." While the style may be appropriate in these two instances, GSA's newly-stated criteria signal that the Trump administration is … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Maloney Request Formal Review of U.S. Coast Guard Certified Materials After Lewd Mnemonic Device Comes to Light
August 26, 2020Washington, D.C. - 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) sent a letter to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Admiral Karl L. Schultz, calling for a formal review of USCG certified training materials after the Chairs learned of an offensive mnemonic device circulating in such material. DeFazio and Maloney wrote: "Within the USCG … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement on U.S. Army Corps Requesting Additional Review of Pebble Mine Project
August 25, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent a letter to the Pebble Limited Partnership requesting additional mitigation measures regarding the Pebble Mine project in Bristol Bay, Alaska within 90 days: "As I've said all along, the Pebble Mine project should never have been allowed to move forward. The proposed mine site, in Alaska's Bristol Bay … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Napolitano Press EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler Over Rollback of Coal Ash Safeguards
August 18, 2020The recently finalized rule by the Trump EPA would slash protections on the disposal of coal ash from power plants, endangering groundwater and the health of U.S. communities 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) sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criticizing EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler - a … Continue Reading
Committee Chairs DeFazio and Smith Lead 68 Members of Congress in Pressing President Trump on National Guard and FEMA Cost-Sharing Requirements
August 14, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the House Committee on Armed Services Adam Smith (D-WA) led 68 Members of Congress in pressing President Trump to immediately waive National Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) cost-sharing requirements for all states and territories amid the national COVID-19 pandemic response. State, local, territorial and tribal governments' budgets have been hammered … Continue Reading