Press Releases
Chair DeFazio Statement on Newly-Released Traffic Fatality Report
October 22, 2019Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) reacted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHSTA) announcement that roadway fatalities are down 2.4%, though pedestrian and cyclist deaths are up 3.4 percent and 6.3 percent respectively. "While total traffic fatalities are down from last year, 36,560 deaths is still an unacceptable number. It's especially troubling to see deaths among cyclists and pedestrians … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Titus Statements from Hearing on Assessment of Federal Recovery Efforts After Catastrophic Disaster Seasons
October 22, 2019Washington, 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 Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Dina Titus (D-NV) during today's hearing titled: "An Assessment of Federal Recovery Efforts from Recent Disasters." Chair DeFazio: Thank you, Chairwoman Titus. It's hard to believe that we're already at the two-year … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Criticizes FAA for Further Delay of Rule on Installations of Secondary Cockpit Barriers
October 21, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Stephen Dickson, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) raising concern over reports the agency will conduct a full rulemaking process instead of simply requiring installation of secondary cockpit barriers on all new airplanes. Last year, Chair DeFazio fought to include a provision in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 directing FAA to issue an … Continue Reading
In New Letter to Transportation Secretary Chao, Chair DeFazio Sharply Questions Why Outrageous Emails Related to the Boeing 737 MAX Are Only Now Being Revealed, Months after Committee’s Initial Request
October 18, 2019Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sharply criticized the Federal Aviation Administration's failure to provide key emails to the Committee and called on U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to fully cooperate with the Committee's outstanding request for records and provide unredacted emails immediately. The letter comes after the FAA released a second batch of key messages and documents in one day … Continue Reading
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment to Hold Hearing on Pebble Mine Project
October 18, 2019Washington, 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), announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, "The Pebble Mine Project: Process and Potential Impacts." More information about the hearing, including witness testimony, additional background information, and live webcast, can be found here once available. HEARING DETAILS "The … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Titus Announce Subcommittee Hearing on Assessment of Federal Recovery Efforts After Catastrophic Disaster Seasons
October 18, 2019Washington, 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), announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, "An Assessment of Federal Recovery Efforts from Recent Disasters." More information about the hearing, including witness testimony, additional background information, and live webcast, can be found here once … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Slams Trump Administration for Moving Ahead on LNG-by-Rail Rulemaking Despite Lack of Information about Risk to Public Safety
October 18, 2019Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) responded to the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) announcement of a proposed rule to move forward with their plan to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail. "I'd like to say I'm surprised by this announcement from the Trump Administration, but, alas, implementing reckless plans for special interests without regard for those who may be affected is pretty standard for this … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Blasts Boeing about Newly-Revealed Messages: This is not about one employee, this is about a failure of safety culture
October 18, 2019Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement after the release of an instant message chain between two Boeing employees: "Today we received documents from Boeing, which apparently they have had in their possession for several months, including the outrageous instant message chain between two Boeing employees indicating Boeing withheld damning information from the FAA. This exchange is shocking, … Continue Reading
Congressional Delegation to Travel to Florida for Field Roundtable on WRDA
October 18, 2019Washington, D.C. - For your planning purposes, Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) and Vice-Chair Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL) announced the Subcommittee will hold a field roundtable in Founders Park, Islamorada, Florida, on Saturday, October 19, 2019 titled "America's Water Resources Infrastructure: Concepts for the Next Water Resources Development Act." Discussion will focus on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' water infrastructure … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Prepared to Issue Subpoena to Obtain Key Documents on Trump’s DC Hotel Lease
October 18, 2019Washington, DC - 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) warned the head of the General Services Administration (GSA) that the Committee will be forced to use a subpoena to obtain key documents related to the federal lease with the Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C. if the documents are not supplied by Wednesday, October 23, … Continue Reading
After Two Largest Ride Hailing Companies Choose Not to Participate in Congressional Hearing on Safety, Labor and Regulatory Issues, Chairs DeFazio, Norton Put Their Questions to Uber and Lyft in Writing
October 18, 2019Washington, DC - Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent letters to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Lyft CEO Logan Green pressing them for answers on critical safety, labor, and regulatory questions. This comes after the companies' failure to participate at a congressional hearing yesterday. As Chair DeFazio stated in the hearing, the Committee will move ahead … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Maloney Statements from Hearing on China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative
October 17, 2019Washington, 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: "China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative: Implications for the Global Maritime Supply Chain." Chair DeFazio: Chairman Maloney, thank you for scheduling this afternoon's hearing to assess … Continue Reading
Chairman DeFazio Statement on Passing of Chairman Elijah Cummings
October 17, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement on the passing of Chairman Elijah Cummings. In addition to serving as Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Cummings was a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "I am deeply saddened by the loss of my longtime friend and colleague, Elijah Cummings. His strength and grace in leadership during … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Norton Statements from Hearing on Future of Transportation Network Companies
October 16, 2019Washington, 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 opening remarks as delivered from Chair of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) during today's hearing titled "Examining the Future of Transportation Network Companies: Challenges and Opportunities." Madam Chair, this hearing takes on a topic that is already having far-reaching … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Urges DOT IG to Investigate Reports of Secretary Chao’s Conflicts of Interest
October 15, 2019Washington, DC - Late last week, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Inspector General Calvin L. Scovel III requesting an investigation into Secretary Elaine Chao and her reported conflicts of interest. The letter cites newly-obtained information from a recent media report that suggested Secretary Chao used her office to give preferential treatment to organizations and projects in … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Urges Uber, Lyft to Reconsider Participation at Upcoming Hearing on Serious Issues Facing the Ride Hailing Industry
October 14, 2019Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) strongly urged Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Lyft CEO Logan Green to reconsider their companies' participation at a congressional hearing scheduled for Wednesday, October 16, 2019. The Subcommittee hearing, titled "Examining the Future of Transportation Network Companies: Challenges and Opportunities," will explore a number of issues pertaining to the ride hailing industry. Both Uber … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Larsen Statements on Newly-Released Review of the Certification of the Boeing 737 MAX
October 11, 2019Washington, 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) issued the following statements after the Joint Authorities Technical Review, or JATR, released its report that assessed how both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing handled the certification of the Boeing 737 MAX flight control system. The Committee is conducting its own investigation into the certification … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Applauds Court Ruling That Will Help Compel Trump Administration to Comply with Congressional Oversight
October 11, 2019Washington, DC - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) reacted to news of the DC appeals court ruling that Mazars USA LLP, the accounting firm that prepared financial statements for President Trump, must comply with the congressional subpoena for the President's financial records: "Today's ruling is great news for congressional oversight and our Constitutional duty to hold this Administration accountable. My Committee has been … Continue Reading
Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation to Hold Hearing on China’s Silk Road
October 11, 2019Washington, 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, "China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative: Implications for the Global Maritime Supply Chain." The purpose of this hearing is to examine the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, one component of a formal global development … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Titus Request GSA Audit of Trump’s Old Post Office Lease
October 01, 2019Washington, 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) reiterated their demand for documents from the General Services Administration (GSA) and requested that GSA conduct an audit of the Trump International Hotel. In their letter to GSA Administrator Emily Murphy, Chairs DeFazio and Titus wrote that under the lease: "GSA can … Continue Reading