Press Releases
Chairs DeFazio and Maloney Applaud Passage of Funding for Critical Coast Guard Program
February 15, 2019Washington, D.C. - Today, the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) celebrated House passage of The Consolidated Appropriations Act, which includes critical funding for construction of the first Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter. "This funding for the Polar Security Cutter will help to address the need for future polar operations and … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Larsen Statements from Hearing on, "Putting U.S. Aviation at Risk: The Impacts of The Shutdown"
February 13, 2019Washington, D.C. - The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) during today's hearing titled: "Putting U.S. Aviation at Risk: The Impacts of The Shutdown." Remarks as delivered can be found here. Thank you, Chairman Larsen, for calling today's hearing on how the President's recent shutdown of the Federal Government affected the operations and workforce of the Federal Aviation … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Larsen Reflect on 10 Year Anniversary of Fatal Flight Colgan Air Flight 3407 Crash
February 12, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) shared comments in remembrance of the fatal Colgan Air crash that took 50 lives. On February 12, 2009, Continental flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air, was scheduled for flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo, New York. Tragically, the flight never made its arrival. At approximately 10:17 PM the plane crashed into a … Continue Reading
Over 160 Representatives and 36 Senators Urge EPA to Extend Comment Period for Proposed WOTUS Rule
February 12, 2019Washington, D.C. - Today, the Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Tom Carper (D-DE), Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and co-chair of the Congressional Safe Climate Caucus Don Beyer (D-VA), led two letters sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Larsen Announce Aviation Subcommittee Hearing, “Putting U.S. Aviation at Risk: The Impact of the Shutdown”
February 11, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chairman 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 first Subcommittee on Aviation hearing of the 116th Congress, "Putting U.S. Aviation at Risk: The Impact of the Shutdown". The hearing will examine how the recent 35-day partial shutdown of the Federal Government impacted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) functions and operations, as well as the U.S. … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio and Larsen Introduce Legislation to Protect U.S. Aviation System, FAA During Future Shutdowns
February 08, 2019Washington, D.C. - Today, the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) introduced legislation that would protect Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs and personnel, and the U.S. aviation industry as a whole, from future shutdowns of the Federal Government. "The United States aviation system is the safest, busiest, most complex aviation system in the world-a system … Continue Reading
Chairman DeFazio Statement from Hearing on, “The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investing in Our Nation’s Infrastructure Cannot Wait”
February 07, 2019Remarks as delivered can be found here. Statement of The Honorable Peter A. DeFazio Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Hearing on "The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investing in our Nation's Infrastructure Cannot Wait" February 7, 2019 (Remarks as prepared for delivery.) Today, we hold the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's first hearing of the 116th Congress. We are starting off by sounding the alarm bells - investing in America's infrastructure cannot wait. For … Continue Reading
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Holds Organizational Meeting
February 07, 2019Washington, DC—Today, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held its organizational meeting, where the Committee finalized subcommittee assignments and the Committee rules. “Transportation is not a partisan issue, it’s about moving people and goods more efficiently in this country and connecting us to the world,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR). “Every state and territory in our country is … Continue Reading
Transportation and Infrastructure Leaders Urge Trump Administration to Protect Jones Act
February 06, 2019Washington, D.C. - Today, leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure wrote a letter to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kirstjen M. Nielsen, expressing their opposition to a request from the Governor of Puerto Rico to waive the Jones Act for ten years to allow foreign tankers to move liquid natural gas (LNG) to the island. The letter was signed by Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), Chairman of the Subcommittee on … Continue Reading
House Passes Bills from Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
February 06, 2019WASHINGTON, DC-- Today, the United States House of Representatives passed five bills from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. These pieces of legislation will help the Pacific Northwest prepare for catastrophic earthquakes, require Congressional notification of commuter rail safety assessments, require public buildings to accommodate breastfeeding mothers, and establish a commission to commemorate Route 66. "I applaud Chair Norton, Ranking Member Davis, and Representatives … Continue Reading
REMINDER: Chairman DeFazio Announces First Full Committee Hearing, “The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investing in Our Nation’s Infrastructure Cannot Wait”
February 06, 2019Washington, DC- Tomorrow the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will hold its first hearing of the 116th Congress on, "The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investing in Our Nation's Infrastructure Cannot Wait". The hearing will examine the current state of the Nation's highways, bridges, transit systems, ports, and airports, the trillion-dollar backlog of maintenance and repair needs, and the increasing costs of Federal inaction. "When I took over as Chairman of the House … Continue Reading
Chairman DeFazio Responds to The State of the Union Address
February 05, 2019Washington, D.C. -- Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement after the State of the Union address by President Donald Trump: "Tonight, President Trump said that investing in our transportation infrastructure should be one area where Democrats and Republicans unite. I agree-our crumbling roads, bridges, transit and rail systems, airports, and harbors impact every community across our country. "None of this can … Continue Reading
Hearing to focus on: “The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investing in Our Nation’s Infrastructure Cannot Wait”
February 04, 2019Washington, DC- The status of our Nation's roads, bridges, transit systems, clean water systems, ports and inland waterways, and airports, the trillion-dollar backlog of maintenance and repair needs, and the increasing costs of Federal inaction will be the subject of this week's hearing. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 7th, 2019, in HVC 210, Capitol Visitors Center. Witnesses: Panel 1: The Honorable Tim Walz, Governor, State of Minnesota; on behalf of … Continue Reading
Chairman DeFazio Announces First Full Committee Hearing, “The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investing in Our Nation’s Infrastructure Cannot Wait”
January 29, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced the first full committee hearing of the 116th Congress, "The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investing in Our Nation's Infrastructure Cannot Wait". The hearing will examine the current state of the Nation's highways, bridges, transit systems, ports, and airports, the trillion-dollar backlog of maintenance and repair needs, and the increasing costs of Federal inaction. "When I … Continue Reading
Chairs DeFazio, Napolitano Press EPA for Answers on Impacts of the Shutdown
January 29, 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 Representative Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) sent a letter to Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Andrew Wheeler requesting information on impacts of the recent government shutdown, and the subsequent lapse in appropriations. "We are deeply concerned about the impacts of the recent … Continue Reading
Chairmen DeFazio and Larsen Respond to Aviation Delays Caused By the Government Shutdown
January 25, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) issued statements in response to the delays to our aviation system caused by the absurd government shutdown. "For 35 days, the dedicated air traffic controllers who guide 43,000 flights a day and keep millions of Americans safe each year have gone to work knowing that they will not be paid. Today marks the second time … Continue Reading
Chairman DeFazio Announces Subcommittee Chairs for the 116th Congress
January 24, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced the election of Members to serve as Chair for each of the Committee's six subcommittees in the 116th Congress. "These are six dedicated, highly experienced, diverse Members of Congress who will provide each subcommittee with the leadership it needs," said Chairman Peter DeFazio. "The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has a long history of working in a bipartisan … Continue Reading
Chairman DeFazio, Rep. Larsen Respond to Reported Drone Incident at Newark Airport
January 23, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and senior member of the committee Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA), responded to news that Newark Liberty International Airport was forced to halt all air traffic after two pilots reported seeing a drone flying nearby. "Thankfully, no one was injured yesterday, but let me be clear, this incident could have had a tragic ending. Irresponsible drone users have caused serious … Continue Reading
Chairman DeFazio, Rep. Titus Press GSA on the Repeated Refusal to Respond to Questions Surrounding Trump’s Conflicts of Interest
January 22, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and senior member of the committee Representative Dina Titus (D-NV), sent a letter to the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) Emily Murphy demanding responses to the many questions that have been completely ignored, surrounding President Trump serving as both a landlord and tenant of the Old Post Office Building (OPO). The letter comes after a GSA Inspector … Continue Reading
Chairman DeFazio Announces Democratic Committee Roster for the 116th Congress
January 16, 2019Washington, DC- Today, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced the selection of Democratic Members to serve on the Committee in the 116th Congress. Selections were made by the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and approved by the Democratic Caucus. "The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has a long history of working in a bipartisan way to get things done for the American people," said Chairman DeFazio. "Today we are … Continue Reading