Press Releases
Top Transportation Committee Leaders Urge DOT to Deny Norwegian Air Permit to Operate In United States
April 26, 2016Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), and Rick Larsen (D-WA) sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) urging him to deny Norwegian Air International (NAI) a permit to operate in the United States in violation of our Open Skies Agreement with Norway and the European Union. "Norwegian Air's overt practice of labor forum-shopping gives it an unfair competitive advantage in the transatlantic market. U.S. and other … Continue Reading
S. 2276, the PIPES Act of 2016
April 19, 2016S,2276, THE "PROTECTING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OF PIPELINES AND ENHANCING SAFETY ACT OF 2016" PIPES Act Short Summary PIPES Act, Section by Section PIPES Act, Fact … Continue Reading
Democrats Introduce Legislation to Help Communities Fund Clean Water Infrastructure Projects
April 14, 2016Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace Napolitano (D-CA) introduced legislation that will help communities finance critical clean water infrastructure projects. The "Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2016", would invest $20 billion over five years in wastewater infrastructure through the Clean Water State Revolving … Continue Reading
RANKING MEMBER ANDRÈ CARSON OPENING STATEMENT: “BLACKOUT! ARE WE PREPARED TO MANAGE THE AFTERMATH OF A CYBER-ATTACK
April 14, 2016Statement of the honorable Andrè Carson Ranking Member, Subcommittee on economic development, public buildings and emergency management house transportation and infrastructure committee "Blackout! Are We Prepared to Manage the Aftermath of a Cyber-Attack or Other Failure of the Electrical Grid?" April 14, 2016 Good morning. I want to thank Chairman Barletta for scheduling today's hearing and join him in welcoming today's witnesses. The electrical grid is … Continue Reading
DeFazio Fights Proposals That Would Significantly Delay Amtrak Train Travel in Oregon
April 12, 2016Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) urged the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to reconsider two proposals that would significantly delay Amtrak train travel throughout Oregon and the United States. The STB recently proposed that freight railroads, not passenger rail service, should have priority on shared rail lines across the United States. This proposal ignores a federal law that clearly states Amtrak … Continue Reading
Ranking Member DeFazio and Congressman Cohen Seek Answers to TVA Pension Cuts
April 11, 2016[WASHINGTON, DC] - Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today sent a letter to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) President and CEO Bill Johnson seeking answers to questions regarding TVA's historical contributions to its pension system, the pending TVA Retirement System modifications, and the impact that these changes would … Continue Reading
96 Democrats Request Increased Funding to Protect Drinking Water, Repair Failing Water Infrastructure
March 14, 2016Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) led nearly 100 Democrats on a letter sent to the House Appropriations Committee, requesting critical funding to protect drinking water and repair failing water infrastructure systems. The letter requests that the fiscal year 2017 Interior Appropriations bill includes a minimum of $2 … Continue Reading
Top Democrats Push to Hold Enbridge Responsible For Environmentally Disastrous Oil Spill
March 09, 2016Washington, D.C. - This week, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Michael Capuano (D-MA) strongly urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess the highest possible penalty on Enbridge Incorporated for a massive 2010 oil spill that destroyed local communities, critical watersheds, and local wildlife. … Continue Reading
CBO: Air Traffic Control Privatization Plan Would Increase Deficit by $20 Billion
March 08, 2016Washington, D.C. - Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its cost estimate of H.R. 4441, the "Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act of 2016" (AIRR Act). It determined that the Republican plan to privatize the United States air traffic control (ATC) system would increase the deficit by nearly $20 billion over ten years. "Today, the Congressional Budget Office landed yet another blow to the flawed Republican plan to privatize our nation's air traffic … Continue Reading
Rep. Carson's Opening Statement: “Saving Taxpayer Dollars by Reducing Federal Office Space Costs”
March 01, 2016Statement of the honorable Andrè Carson Ranking Member , Subcommittee on economic development, public buildings and emergency management house transportation and infrastructure committee "Saving Taxpayer Dollars by Reducing Federal Office Space Costs" March 1, 2016 Welcome to today's hearing. I am pleased to see Minority Whip Hoyer at the witness table testifying on behalf of his constituents in Maryland. As the federal government's landlord, the General … Continue Reading
Rep. Napolitano's Opening Statement: “A Review of United States Army Corps of Engineers Reports to Congress on Future Water Resources Development and Chief’s Reports"
February 24, 2016Opening Statement The Honorable Grace F. Napolitano, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Hearing on "A Review of United States Army Corps of Engineers Reports to Congress on Future Water Resources Development and Chief's Reports" February 24, 2016 I would welcome our two witnesses to this hearing - the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, the Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, and the Chief of Engineers, Lieutenant General Bostick. They … Continue Reading
Larsen Opening Statement: “Review of ATC Reform Proposals”
February 10, 2016WASHINGTON, D.C.- Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, delivered the following statement at the House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee's hearing, "Review of ATC Reform Proposals." The remarks are as prepared for delivery. Mr. Chairman, thank you for agreeing to hold this hearing and for the opportunity to discuss your legislative proposal to privatize our nation's air traffic control (ATC) system. But before we talk … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Larsen Question Republican Plan To Privatize Critical Air Traffic Control Operations
February 09, 2016Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) questioned a Republican plan that would completely dismantle the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and devolve Federal responsibility for the air traffic control system by handing it over to a private, not-for-profit board of industry interests and businesses. "We have invested tens of billions of … Continue Reading
GAO Report Confirms Air Traffic Control Privatization is High Risk
February 09, 2016Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) responded to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that confirmed that a Republican proposal to privatize air traffic control operations would be a high-risk gamble. The report was released on the same day as a hearing on the controversial ATC privatization proposal. "This GAO report … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Larsen Oppose Air Traffic Control Privatization Plan
February 02, 2016Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) strongly opposed a proposal by Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) that would completely dismantle the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to privatize air traffic control and devolve Federal responsibility for the air traffic control system by handing it over to a private, not-for-profit board of industry … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Napolitano Opening Statement at Roundtable on “Building Upon Success: Priorities for the Water Resources Development Act of 2016”
February 02, 2016Statement of The Honorable Grace F. Napolitano, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Roundtable on "Building Upon Success: Priorities for the Water Resources Development Act of 2016" Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for calling together this roundtable on the priorities for a new water resources development act. Today, we have assembled a diverse group of stakeholders representing major cities, industries, and interest groups that directly benefit … Continue Reading
DeFazio Pushes DOT to Prioritize Critical Oil Spill Response Plans
January 20, 2016Washington, D.C. -Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) pressed Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx on the completion of a critical rule that would better protect communities and emergency responders after toxic crude-by-rail accidents. "Comprehensive oil spill response plans are crucial for adequately preparing Federal, state, local and regional response teams to respond to an accident or incident … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Norton Urge DOT to Let States Experiment with Alternative Funding Mechanisms for Highway Trust Fund
January 06, 2016Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) urged U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx to quickly make grant funds available to states so they can experiment with alternate ways to finance the Highway Trust Fund in a manner that will provide long-term certainty to state and local governments. In … Continue Reading
Top Democratic Transportation Leaders Urge STB to Reject Canadian Pacific Takeover of Norfolk Southern
January 05, 2016Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Michael Capuano (D-MA) sent a letter strongly urging the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to reject a potential hostile takeover or acquisition of the Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) by the Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd. (CP). Since late 2015, CP has made several offers to buy NS, … Continue Reading
House Passes 5-Year FAST Act to Invest in America’s Surface Transportation Infrastructure
December 07, 2015The House of Representatives today overwhelmingly approved the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, five-year legislation to improve America's roads, bridges, public transit, and rail transportation systems and reform federal surface transportation programs. The FAST Act is the bicameral, bipartisan agreement of the House-Senate Conference Committee that was tasked with resolving differences between the surface transportation bills passed earlier this year in the House and … Continue Reading