Press Releases
Chairs DeFazio, Larsen Urge FAA to Conduct Third-Party Review into Boeing 737-MAX
March 26, 2019Washington, 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) sent a letter to Acting Administrator Daniel K. Elwell of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), urging the FAA to engage an independent, third-party review composed of individuals with the technical skills and expertise to objectively assess the corrective measures proposed for the 737 MAX by Boeing. "As the … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Larsen Urge FAA to Conduct Third-Party Review into Boeing 737-MAX
March 26, 2019March 26, 2019 Daniel K. Elwell Acting Administrator Federal Aviation Administration 800 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, DC 20591 Dear Acting Administrator Elwell: It is imperative that any technical modifications proposed for the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft as a result of the Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accidents, which cost the lives of 346 people, including eight Americans, are comprehensive and reliable. As you know, Federal Aviation Administration … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement from Hearing on “The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investment in our Nation’s Airports Matters”
March 26, 2019Washington, D.C. - The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery by Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) during today's hearing titled: "The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investment in our Nation's Airports Matters." Before we begin this hearing, I would like to take a moment to provide an update on the important work this Committee is undertaking in response to the devastating Lion Air flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 … Continue Reading
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to hold Markup
March 26, 2019Washington, DC- The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a Full Committee markup this Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 10:00 am in HVC 210, Capitol Visitor Center to consider the following measures: H.R. 1108 - Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 H.R. 1775- To establish a task force on NOTAM improvements, and for other purposes; H.R. 367 - Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2019 H.R.1322 - To require a report on the effects of Climate Change on the Coast Guard; H.R. 1306 … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Encourages FAA/Boeing Employees to Utilize Whistleblower Page
March 22, 2019Washington, DC- Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) is encouraging any current or former officials or employees of Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who are familiar with the FAA's aircraft certification program, to utilize the Committee's whistleblower webpage if they have any information that would be of interest to the Committee and its investigation into the FAA's approach to certifying the Boeing 737 MAX. The website … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Napolitano Respond to EPA’s Decision to Not Extend Comment Period for Proposed WOTUS Rule
March 21, 2019Washington, 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. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to not extend the deadline for public comments on the revised definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS). "Over 160 of our House Colleagues, 36 Senators, Governors, state officials, agencies, businesses, and … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Announces Full Committee Hearing, “The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investment in our Nation’s Airports Matters”
March 21, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced the Full Committee will hold a hearing titled, "The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investment in our Nation's Airports Matters." The hearing will explore the state of U.S. airport infrastructure and opportunities for Congress to increase funding for projects that will increase the ability of airports to rehabilitate aging infrastructure and prepare for unprecedented passenger … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Larsen Request DOT IG Investigation into FAA Certifying Boeing 737 MAX
March 20, 2019Washington, 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) sent a letter to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Calvin L. Scovel III, requesting an investigation into the Federal Aviation Administration's approach to certifying the Boeing 737 MAX. "The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is committed to making the world's safest transportation … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Announces Whistleblower Webpage
March 19, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced the addition of a whistleblower webpage to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee website. This page is intended to serve as a resource for those who wish to share information or concerns about programs, projects, conflicts-of-interest or incidents that fall within the Committee's jurisdiction. "Whistleblowers can play an integral role in an open and transparent … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Maloney React to Coast Guard Policy of Disqualifying Transgender Persons from Service
March 18, 2019Washington, 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) reacted to the United States Coast Guard's announced policy of disqualifying service by transgender persons looking to enter the service, or those person's identified with gender dysphoria, with limited exceptions. "We are deeply disturbed by the Coast Guard's decision … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Larsen Respond to Grounding of Boeing Aircraft
March 13, 2019Washington, DC- Statement from Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA): "Despite repeated assurances from the FAA in recent days, it has become abundantly clear to us that not only should the 737 MAX be grounded but also that there must be a rigorous investigation into why the aircraft, which has critical safety systems that did not exist on prior models, was certified without requiring … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement from Hearing on “Aligning Federal Surface Transportation Policy to Meet 21st Century Needs”
March 13, 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) during today's hearing titled: "Aligning Federal Surface Transportation Policy to Meet 21st Century Needs." Thank you, Chair Norton and Ranking Member Davis, for holding this hearing. Without question, the most imperative work this Subcommittee will undertake in the 116th Congress is crafting a surface transportation … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio Statement on Crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302
March 12, 2019Washington, D.C. - "In the coming days, it is absolutely critical that we get answers as to what caused the devastating crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 and whether there is any connection to what caused the Lion Air accident just five months ago. I remain concerned that international aviation regulators are providing more certainty to the flying public by grounding the 737 MAX 8 than our own FAA-- the world leader in aviation safety. I spoke to senior officials at FAA yesterday to … Continue Reading
Chair Larsen Statement from Hearing on "Looking Forward: Aviation 2050"
March 12, 2019Washington, D.C. - The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) during today's hearing titled: "Looking Forward: Aviation 2050." Good morning and thank you to today's witnesses for joining the Subcommittee's discussion on "Aviation 2050." I want to start today by acknowledging the tragedy of Sunday's crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Eight Americans and 21 United Nations employees … Continue Reading
Chair DeFazio: “Trump budget would shirk federal responsibility when it comes to our nation’s infrastructure”
March 11, 2019Washington, D.C. -Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement in response to President Trump's budget release. "It's clear that our country needs significant federal investment to even begin to bring our nation's infrastructure to a state of good repair, so it's highly disappointing that once again, despite so much of his rhetoric over the past few years, the President put forth a budget that falls incredibly short. … Continue Reading
Subcommittee on Highways and Transit to Hold Hearing to Examine Federal Surface Transportation Policy
March 08, 2019Washington, DC- Today, 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) announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, "Aligning Federal Surface Transportation Policy to Meet 21st Century Needs." During the hearing, Members will consider whether and how Federal-aid highway and Federal transit policies need to change to ensure that our surface transportation network … Continue Reading
Subcommittee on Aviation to Hold Hearing on Future of U.S. Aviation
March 08, 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) announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, "Looking Forward: Aviation 2050." The hearing will explore the future of U.S. aviation and the National Airspace System (NAS), including how the NAS is evolving as a result of new aviation and aerospace technologies, as well as how new and future entrants (including … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Napolitano Statements from Hearing on, “The Clean Water State Revolving Fund: How Federal Infrastructure Investment Can Help Communities Modernize Water Infrastructure and Address Affordability Challenges”
March 07, 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 Water Resources and Environment Grace Napolitano (D-CA) during today's hearing titled: "The Clean Water State Revolving Fund: How Federal Infrastructure Investment Can Help Communities Modernize Water Infrastructure and Address Affordability Challenges." Chair DeFazio: Thank you, Madam … Continue Reading
Democratic Chairs Press Administration for Documents Withheld on FBI Headquarters Across Street from Trump Hotel in D.C.
March 06, 2019Washington, D.C. (Mar. 6, 2019)-Today, the Chairs of five House Committees and Subcommittees sent a letter demanding documents that are currently being withheld by the Trump Administration relating to the decision to block the longstanding plan to relocate the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters to a suburban location-which would have allowed commercial developers to acquire the existing site and compete directly with the Trump Hotel across the street on Pennsylvania Avenue-and … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Maloney Statements from Hearing on, “U.S. Maritime and Shipbuilding Industries: Strategies to Improve Regulation, Economic Opportunities, and Competitiveness”
March 06, 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: "U.S. Maritime and Shipbuilding Industries: Strategies to Improve Regulation, Economic Opportunities, and Competitiveness." Chair DeFazio: Thank you, Chairman Maloney and Ranking Member … Continue Reading