Press Releases
Chair DeFazio Applauds Inclusion of T&I Provisions to Expand Protections for Frontline Workers and Families in Fourth Coronavirus Relief Package
May 15, 2020Washington, 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, 2020Washington, 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, 2020Washington, 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, 2020May 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, 2020Washington, 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, 2020Trump'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
Chair DeFazio Criticizes Frontier Airlines for Charging Passengers to Leave Middle Seat Empty: This is “Capitalizing on Fear”
May 06, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement after Frontier Airlines started offering a new charge for passengers trying to maintain distance on flights during the COVID-19 pandemic: "In our current moment of crisis, when everyone is being asked to do what they can to maintain proper social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, I find it outrageous that an airline sees the imperative for … Continue Reading
Committee Leaders DeFazio and Maloney Send Records Request to Carnival Cruise Lines Regarding its Health and Safety Practices Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
May 01, 2020Washington, 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) initiated a records request regarding the response of the Carnival Corporation, and its nine affiliated cruise lines, to the coronavirus pandemic. The Chairs sent letters requesting relevant documents to the Carnival Corporation, the Centers for Disease Control and … Continue Reading
Congressional Leaders Introduce Legislation to Help States and Communities Respond to COVID-19 by Shifting Federal Cost Share for Emergency Declarations
May 01, 2020Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Emergency Management, and Public Buildings Dina Titus (D-NV), Chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Applauds Airlines for Voluntarily Adopting Masking Standards But Continues Push for Federal Requirement
May 01, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement after leading U.S. airlines announced they would begin requiring cloth masks for frontline employees and passengers during check-in, boarding, in-flight, and deplaning in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19: "I'm encouraged to see airlines making public health a priority by requiring cloth masks during the pandemic for all passengers and the … Continue Reading
Thompson, DeFazio Urge Trump to Approve Assistance for FEMA to Pay for Coronavirus Victim Burials
May 01, 2020May 1, 2020 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the following statement urging President Trump to release funding for FEMA to pay for burial costs for victims of COVID-19. In past disasters, FEMA has paid these costs: "The current coronavirus pandemic has not only been the deadliest disaster the country has faced in over a … Continue Reading
House Committee Overseeing FEMA Demands Answers about the Lack of Transparency of the Medical Supply Chain and Whether Distribution of Supplies Has Been Politically Motivated
April 29, 2020Washington, D.C. – 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) are demanding answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after numerous accounts of the agency redirecting or re-prioritizing urgently-needed protective gear and medical equipment amid allegations of political influence from the White House. The Chairs … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Urges FAA Administrator to Require Face Masks for Passengers and Crew on All U.S. Flights and to Ensure Safe Spacing Between Passengers
April 29, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement: "As our Nation confronts this devastating public health crisis, it is incumbent on every Federal agency to provide clear, consistent requirements that put the health and well-being of all Americans first. Accordingly, today I urged FAA Administrator Dickson to require masks or other face coverings for all crewmembers and passengers on U.S. flights. I … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Maloney Respond to NTSB Investigation into the Table Rock Lake Duck Boat Accident
April 29, 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) responded to the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) findings into the deadly 2018 Table Rock Lake duck boat accident near Branson, Missouri. Among other factors, the NTSB faulted the U.S. Coast Guard for failing to implement safety recommendations made in 2000. "The … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Responds to Report Leader McConnell Won’t Support Infrastructure Investment for Future Coronavirus Response Plan
April 29, 2020Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today released the following statement after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly panned the idea of infrastructure investment for a future economic rescue package: "With tens of millions of Americans out of work and entire swaths of the economy shut down by a global health crisis, the country is now on the precipice of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. … Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Urge Airlines to Implement Flexible Cancellation Policies and Measures to Keep Airline Workers and Travelers Safe During COVID-19 Pandemic
April 28, 2020Washington, DC - 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 Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation Garret Graves (R-LA) called on U.S. airlines to relax their flight cancellation policies to the extent practicable and implement measures to ensure the safety of airline workers and … Continue Reading
Neal, DeFazio Urge Trump Administration to Support Motorcoach Industry Amid COVID-19 Crisis
April 24, 2020WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR) requested Department of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell consider providing at least $5 billion in loans to over-the-road bus carriers under a program recently enacted by the CARES Act. The Economic Stabilization and Assistance to Severely Distressed Sectors of the U.S. Economy program allocates $454 … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Titus Press GSA for Answers Amid Reports Trump’s DC Hotel is Seeking Rent Relief from Federal Taxpayers
April 23, 2020Washington, 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) demanded answers from General Services Administration (GSA) head Emily Murphy amid reports the Trump Organization is looking for rent relief for its lease of the taxpayer-owned Old Post Office Building in Washington, D.C., that houses the Trump International Hotel. The … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Peters Urge Trump Administration to Waive Cost-Sharing Requirements for States Battling Coronavirus
April 22, 2020WASHINGTON, DC -U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) today called on President Trump to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive all cost-share requirements for states responding to the global Coronavirus pandemic. On March 13, President Trump declared a national emergency related to the outbreak, authorizing federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts. Under the Public Assistance program, emergency … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Napolitano Respond to Trump Administration’s Finalization of Rule to Gut Federal Clean Water Protections
April 22, 2020Washington, 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) responded to the Trump administration's announcement that it has finalized its rule to roll back clean water protections over the Nation's rivers, streams, and wetlands, jeopardizing the safe drinking water of over a hundred million American households. "The Trump administration's move to roll back … Continue Reading