Press Releases
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
Chair DeFazio Slams FCC Approval of Ligado License Application
April 21, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) slammed a Federal Communications Commission decision to approve Ligado's application to use a portion of the L-band spectrum, which is also used for GPS, for a 5G network. The FCC approval comes despite widespread opposition from other Federal agencies, including the Pentagon and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). In November 2019, DOT laid out specific concerns regarding … Continue Reading
COMMITTEE LEADERS DEMAND CHANGES TO EPA’S POLICY RELAXING ENFORCEMENT DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
April 21, 2020Energy 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 today to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler demanding transparency and additional changes to the Agency's recently-announced guidance relaxing the enforcement of legal obligations during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Chairs also … Continue Reading
Citing Serious National Security, Safety and Economic Concerns, Chair DeFazio and Rep. Garamendi Call on FCC to Deny Ligado’s 5G License Application
April 17, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, citing risks to the reliability and function of Global Positioning System (GPS) radio navigation signals, the Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Committee Member Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) called on Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to both withdraw his draft order and reject Ligado Networks' application for a license modification to facilitate 5G and Internet of Things services in the United … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement on U.S. Treasury’s Newly-Announced Agreements That Will Save Hundreds of Thousands of U.S. Aviation Jobs
April 14, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced agreements with 10 air carriers that will use Congressionally-approved grants to keep an estimated 750,000 airline employees on the payroll through September. Chair DeFazio authored the payroll grants provision in the House legislation that was ultimately enacted as part of the CARES Act. "Even … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement on Newly-Released Bridge Report Highlighting 1 in 3 U.S. Bridges are in Need of Repair
April 13, 2020Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) highlighted the American Road & Transportation Builders Association's (ARTBA) newly-released analysis that shows 230,000 U.S. bridges are in need of repair and 46,000 are "structurally deficient" and in poor condition as another example of why we can't wait to invest in our infrastructure. Chair DeFazio has long urged significant Federal investment in the Nation's crumbling … Continue Reading
House Chairs Condemn President’s Assault on IGs
April 10, 2020Washington, D.C. (Apr. 10, 2020)-Today, the chairs of multiple House Committees sent a lettercondemning President Donald Trump's assault on Inspectors General (IGs) and requesting direct input from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency on legislative and other proposals to increase the independence of IGs and protect them from retaliation. "Unlike any President in modern history, President Trump has engaged in offensive and unjustified attacks against Inspectors … Continue Reading
Committee Leaders Reaffirm Bipartisan Opposition to Any Effort to Waive the Jones Act and Jeopardize U.S. Maritime Jobs
April 02, 2020Washington, 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 Ranking Member Bob Gibbs (R-OH) released the following joint statement after reports that the Administration is considering waiving the Jones Act. The Jones Act is a U.S. law that requires American vessels be … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Joins Colleagues to Discuss Infrastructure Priorities for a Future Economic Stimulus Package
April 01, 2020Springfield, OR - Today, days after Congress passed the $2.2 trillion CARES Act to provide resources for public health and help for millions of workers and families, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, and Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Frank Pallone on a press call to discuss potential next steps for a long-term economic recovery package. Chair DeFazio … Continue Reading
House Committee Chairs Request Extension of Public Comment Periods During Coronavirus National Emergency
April 01, 2020Washington, D.C. - Fourteen House Committee Chairs sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought today requesting an immediate extension of public comment periods, hearings and meetings due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Committee leaders asked that OMB direct agencies to extend public comment periods by at least 45 days beyond the end of the declared national emergency. The letter was signed by Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Applauds Inclusion of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Language in the CARES Act
March 31, 2020Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) offered his support for the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act," which includes critical protections proposed by the Committee for workers in the Nation's transportation sectors as well as language to help ensure funds collected in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used for their intended purpose-harbor maintenance. Fixing the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Offers His Support for Putting American Families and Workers First in Third COVID-19 Relief Package
March 27, 2020Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act," sending it to the president's desk to be signed into law. This legislation is the third in a series of relief packages related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and includes critical protections offered by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for workers in the Nation's transportation sectors. This package also includes increases in funding for agencies … Continue Reading
Chairman DeFazio Applauds DHS for Responsibly Delaying REAL ID Compliance Deadline
March 26, 2020Washington, DC -Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) applauded Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf for his decision to delay the REAL ID compliance deadline to October 1, 2021. Last week, DeFazio joined Chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Lou Correa (D-CA) to call on Acting Secretary Wolf to delay the … Continue Reading
Thompson, DeFazio, Payne, Titus Urge Trump to Eliminate Cost Share for States Under Coronavirus Disaster Declarations
March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR), Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, and Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, sent a letter to President Trump urging him … Continue Reading
T&I Committee Helps Secure Key Provisions for Workers and Families in New House Bill to Address the Impacts of the Coronavirus
March 24, 2020Washington, DC – The House Democrats’ newly-introduced legislation, H.R. 6379, the “Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act,” includes multiple provisions that will help millions of workers in the aviation, railroad, and public transit sectors, as well as families that are at risk of losing water and wastewater services during the coronavirus crisis. Importantly, the bill also puts critical guardrails on financial assistance for air carriers, meaning … Continue Reading
Chairman Peter DeFazio Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
March 20, 2020Washington, D.C. - Chairman Peter DeFazio of Oregon delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week's address, the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee discussed the importance of transportation in securing our health and financial well-being, as well as House Democrats' commitment to workers and families in our response to coronavirus. Video and audio of the Weekly Democratic Address can be downloaded here. Below is a full transcript of the address: "Hi, I'm … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Titus Urge Economic Development Administration to Assist Businesses Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
March 18, 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) sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fleming requesting that Economic Development Administration (EDA) programs respond as quickly as possible to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our American citizens are bravely … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Napolitano Show Support for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA Working Together in Response to COVID-19 Outbreak
March 18, 2020Washington, 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) responded to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) mission assignment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to engage in planning for alternate medical facilities, in response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. "We need to utilize every tool we have at our discretion to … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Thompson and Correa Call for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Delay the REAL ID Act Implementation Deadline
March 16, 2020Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Lou Correa (D-CA) called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf to delay the October 1, 2020, REAL ID Act implementation deadline. Citing the impact of COVID-19, the limited number of Americans with compliant … Continue Reading