Top Democrats Introduce Legislation to Speed Up PTC Implementation, Prevent Further PTC Extensions
Top Democrats Introduce Legislation to Speed Up PTC Implementation, Prevent Further PTC Extensions Legislation would provide funding for PTC implementation and prevent new passenger rail service on routes without PTC Washington, 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) introduced legislation that would speed … Continue Reading
January 03, 2018
Top Transportation Democrats Urge President Trump to Immediately Fill Long-Vacant Seats on the Surface Transportation Board
Top Transportation Democrats Urge President Trump to Immediately Fill Long-Vacant Seats on the Surface Transportation Board Washington, 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 to President Donald J. Trump, strongly urging him to immediately appoint qualified individuals to fill long-vacant … Continue Reading
January 02, 2018
DeFazio, Capuano Request PTC Status Update from Chao, Plan to Introduce PTC Legislation in January
DeFazio, Capuano Request PTC Status Update from Chao, Plan to Introduce PTC Legislation in January Washington, D.C. - 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 to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao requesting a detailed status update on where the railroads are in fully implementing critical Positive Train … Continue Reading
December 18, 2017
Top Transportation Democrats Push for Stronger Buy America Requirements, Request Copy of Buy America Report
Top Transportation Democrats Push for Stronger Buy America Requirements, Request Copy of Buy America Report Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Ranking Democrats on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure sent a letter to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) Wilbur Ross and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Mick Mulvaney offering their strong support for strengthening Buy America and Buy American laws. In the letter, the Democrats applaud … Continue Reading
December 14, 2017
DeFazio Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Safety of Air Transportation of Lithium Batteries
DeFazio Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Safety of Air Transportation of Lithium Batteries Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced H.R. 4643, the Safe Air Transport of Hazardous Materials Act of 2017, legislation that provides the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with authority to regulate hazardous materials transported onboard aircraft and eliminates barriers to the United States … Continue Reading
November 30, 2017
Committee Approves Disaster Recovery Reform and Human Trafficking Legislation at Markup
This morning, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved sweeping FEMA reform legislation, as well as two bills to address human trafficking on the Nation's highways. "This morning's markup demonstrated what our Committee can accomplish through bipartisan consensus," said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA). "We approved significant FEMA reform legislation that shifts our focus to predisaster mitigation in the wake of a historic hurricane … Continue Reading
November 09, 2017
DeFazio Demands PHMSA Implement Long-Delayed Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Mandates
DeFazio Demands PHMSA Implement Long-Delayed Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Mandates Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao highlighting PHMSA’s repeated failure to take action on outstanding safety-critical rulemakings. “We cannot afford to wait until another catastrophic accident occurs and lives are lost for PHMSA to take … Continue Reading
November 07, 2017
DeFazio Urges OMB Finalize Life-Saving, Connected Vehicle-to-Vehicle Rulemaking
DeFazio Urges OMB Finalize Life-Saving, Connected Vehicle-to-Vehicle Rulemaking Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Mick Mulvaney urging him to act on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to bring connected vehicle technology, known as Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) to all vehicles. To date, the Trump Administration has … Continue Reading
October 30, 2017
DeFazio Urges DOT to Use $911 Million of Unused Highway Emergency Relief Funds
DeFazio Urges DOT to Use $911 Million of Unused Highway Emergency Relief Funds Will Reduce Backlog of $1.76 Billion in Pending Emergency Relief Requests Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Ranking Democrat of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao urging immediate action to address the backlog under the Federal-aid Highway Emergency Relief (ER) program. Currently, the U.S. Department of … Continue Reading
October 29, 2017
CRS: ATC PRIVATIZATION TRIGGERS BUDGET SEQUESTRATION
CRS: ATC PRIVATIZATION TRIGGERS BUDGET SEQUESTRATION AIRR Act causes across-the-board cuts to Medicare, Military Retirement Fund payments, FEMA Flood Insurance, and more Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) publicly released a written memorandum from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) that states a … Continue Reading
October 27, 2017
Top Democrats Demand IG Investigation into Whitefish Energy No-Bid Contract in Puerto Rico
Top Democrats Demand IG Investigation into Whitefish Energy No-Bid Contract in Puerto Rico Washington, 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 Natural Resources Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General (IG) John Roth requesting a comprehensive audit and investigation of a $300 million no-bid contract between the Puerto Rico … Continue Reading
October 25, 2017
DeFazio to Chao: It’s Time DOT Increases Transparency in Air Travel Fees
DeFazio to Chao: It’s Time DOT Increases Transparency in Air Travel Fees Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao urging for more transparency in the cost of U.S. air travel. In 2016, U.S. airlines took home $7.1 billion from baggage and change or cancellation fees alone. However, due to airlines’ inconsistent fee revenue reporting practices and U.S. … Continue Reading
October 19, 2017
DeFazio Blasts DOT for Jeopardizing Aviation Safety, Replacing FAA with PHMSA on International Aviation Safety Board
DeFazio Blasts DOT for Jeopardizing Aviation Safety, Replacing FAA with PHMSA on International Aviation Safety Board Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, blasting her for a decision to replace the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) as the U.S. Department of … Continue Reading
October 19, 2017
ICYMI: Sully Makes the Case Against ATC Privatization
ICYMI: Sully Makes the Case Against ATC Privatization Washington, DC- Captain Chelsey (“Sully”) Sullenberger, best known as the pilot of the “Miracle on the Hudson”, made a strong case against H.R. 2997, the “21st Century AIRR Act”, which includes a controversial plan to privatize the Nation’s air traffic control system and hand control of our public airspace to major U.S. airlines. In an opinion editorial in USA Today, he writes, “The airlines, as a business, have their own agenda, but it … Continue Reading
October 12, 2017
Top Committee Democrats Request GAO Inquiry into EPA’s Misuse of Taxpayer Dollars to Undermine Clean Water Rule
Top Committee Democrats Request GAO Inquiry into EPA’s Misuse of Taxpayer Dollars to Undermine Clean Water Rule Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Ranking Member of the House Committee on … Continue Reading
October 11, 2017
DeFazio: Let’s Stop Talking and Start Investing, It’s Time for This Committee To Take the Lead on Infrastructure
DeFazio: Let’s Stop Talking and Start Investing, It’s Time for This Committee To Take the Lead on Infrastructure In a hearing, DeFazio blasts Republicans for gutting transportation funds by $254 billion Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Ranking Democrat of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Peter DeFazio (D-OR), delivered a fiery statement at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit titled “Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for … Continue Reading
October 10, 2017
Top Democrats Urge Immediate DOT Action on Drug Testing for Opioids
Top Democrats Urge Immediate DOT Action on Drug Testing for Opioids Trump Administration has failed to add opioids to drug-testing panel for certain transportation workers Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Ranking Democrats on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) Elaine Chao urging immediate action on a stalled rulemaking that would add four prescription opioids to the drug-testing for safety-sensitive … Continue Reading
October 04, 2017
ICYMI: Garmin CEO Makes the Case Against ATC Privatization
ICYMI: Garmin CEO Makes the Case Against ATC Privatization Washington, DC- Cliff Pemble, who has served as the president and CEO of avionics and GPS manufacturer Garmin Ltd. since January 2013, makes a strong case against H.R. 2997, the “21st Century AIRR Act”, which includes a controversial plan to privatize the Nation’s air traffic control system and hand control of our public airspace to major U.S. airlines. In an opinion editorial in The Hill newspaper, Pemble writes, “Dismantling our … Continue Reading
October 03, 2017
Top Democrats Request IG Investigation of EPA Administrator Pruitt’s Wasteful Spending
For Immediate Release: October 4, 2017 Contact:Jen Adler (DeFazio), 202-225-4472 Washington, D.C. -- Today, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment Grace Napolitano (D-CA) sent a letter to the Inspector General of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Arthur A. Elkins, Jr. requesting an immediate investigation into the potential waste or abuse of … Continue Reading
September 28, 2017
DeFazio, Larsen Respond to House Passage of a Six-Month FAA Extension
DeFazio, Larsen Respond to House Passage of a Six-Month FAA Extension Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) reacted after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a short-term, six-month Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extension. “Here we are again. Yet another short-term extension to keep the lights on at the FAA while … Continue Reading