Press Releases
MEDIA ADVISORY -- Transportation Committee Democratic Leaders to Hold Press Conference Thursday
July 06, 2011Washington, D.C. - Democratic leaders on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a press conference tomorrow after Committee Republicans roll out a multi-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal. Who: -Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure-Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit-Other Democratic Committee Leaders What:Democratic response to … Continue Reading
Rahall: Republican Plan to Abolish Amtrak a ‘Transcontinental Tragedy’
June 22, 2011Washington, D.C.- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing today to receive testimony on a controversial and potentially unconstitutional Republican bill to privatize Amtrak that would put it out of business by auctioning off its assets to the highest bidder. “The non-partisan Congressional Research Service has determined that this proposal is unconstitutional because it violates the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. It is also likely that the proposal … Continue Reading
House Committee Passes Rahall Bill to Rein in EPA
June 22, 2011Washington, D.C.- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today approved bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the Committee, and U.S. Representative John Mica (R-FL), Chairman of the Committee, aimed at reining in EPA’s overreach in the Clean Water Act permitting process that is threatening the future of coal mining jobs and communities throughout Appalachia. “For far too many years now, my State and others throughout the … Continue Reading
Rahall: Republican Plan to Abolish Amtrak ‘Death Knell’ for Passenger Rail Service in America
June 15, 2011Washington, D.C.- Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today unveiled a controversial partisan proposal to privatize Amtrak that will destroy American jobs, imperil passenger rail service nationwide, and increase costs for the federal government, states, commuter rail agencies, freight railroads, small businesses, and American taxpayers. “Taking a play out of President Bush’s book, Republicans are dusting off a chronically unpopular proposal that will cripple … Continue Reading
Subcommittee Panel Holds Hearing on Creating Maritime Jobs and Increasing U.S. Exports
June 14, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation today held an oversight hearing on creating jobs and increasing U.S. exports by enhancing the Marine Transportation System. The Subcommittee received testimony from the following witnesses: The Honorable David Matsuda, Administrator, Maritime Administration; Mr. Joseph J. Cox, President and CEO, Chamber of Shipping of America; Mr. Michael Roberts, Chief Counsel, Crowley … Continue Reading
Rahall Delivers Transportation Message to the White House
June 02, 2011Washington, D.C.- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today joined the House Democratic Caucus in a meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House on the federal debt. Rahall discussed with the President the importance of investing in America’s transportation infrastructure to create jobs and keep our economy moving throughout the 21st century. “The message I delivered to the President was about the … Continue Reading
Rahall Legislation Reinforces Indian Tribe Sovereignty during Major Disasters and Emergency Situations
May 24, 2011Washington, D.C.- As Joplin, Missouri, recovers from the single deadliest tornado since officials began keeping records in 1950, U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation that would solidify Indian Country’s tribal sovereignty during major disasters and emergency situations. “This has been a priority for Indian Country for over a decade and upon enactment will treat Indian tribes as … Continue Reading
Rahall Introduces
May 13, 2011CWCFA … Continue Reading
Rahall Addresses 2011 International Transportation and Economic Development Conference
May 02, 2011Charleston, WV- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today spoke at the 2011 International Transportation and Economic Development Conference (I-TED) in Charleston. Below are Rahall’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: Remarks of U.S. Representative Nick J. RahallDemocratic Ranking Member, House Committee on Transportation & InfrastructureInternational Transportation Economic Development ConferenceCharleston, WVMay 2, … Continue Reading
Rahall: Republican “Road to Ruin” Budget Destroys Hundreds of Thousands of American Transportation Jobs
April 15, 2011Washington, D.C.- As America’s economy picks up steam after the worst recession since the Great Depression, the House of Representatives today passed the Republican “Road to Ruin” Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res. 34) that will destroy hundreds of thousands of American transportation jobs. “This Budget slashes investments in our people - from ending Medicare as we know it to destroying the family-wage jobs of highway construction - all the while, providing a double-digit … Continue Reading
Subcommittee Panel Holds Hearing on Improving and Streamlining the Coast Guard’s Acquisition Program
April 13, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation today held an oversight hearing on the status of the U.S. Coast Guard’s current acquisition programs, as well as the policies and procedures the Service uses to determine mission needs requirements and the assets needed to meet those requirements. The Subcommittee received testimony from the following witnesses: Vice Admiral John Currier, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, … Continue Reading
Panel Holds Hearing on Railroad and Hazardous Materials Transportation Programs
April 07, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials today held a hearing on railroad and hazardous materials transportation programs in preparation for drafting a surface transportation reauthorization bill. Below is the opening statement of U.S. Representative Corrine Brown (D-FL), Democratic Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, as prepared for delivery: Statement of the … Continue Reading
Rahall Statement on Republican FY 2012 Budget Blueprint
April 05, 2011Washington, D.C.- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today released the following statement after House Republicans released their budget blueprint for Fiscal Year 2012, which proposes to cut $318 billion in federal transportation investments from current levels over the next decade, including cuts of more than $150 billion of contract authority for highway, highway safety, transit, and airport construction … Continue Reading
Controversial Republican FAA Bill Destroys American Jobs, Breaks Promise with Rural Americans, Denies Voice to American Workers
April 01, 2011Washington, D.C.- Just one week after two airliners landed at Washington National Airport without landing clearances due to an alleged sleeping air traffic supervisor, Republicans in the House of Representatives today passed legislation that will decrease air passenger safety, destroy American jobs, deny a voice to working Americans, and diminish aviation and economic options for rural communities. “’Do more with less:’ that is how the Republicans think the FAA will operate under this bill. … Continue Reading
Rahall: Republican FAA Bill Sends American Jobs into Thin Air
March 31, 2011Washington, D.C.- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today led efforts in the House of Representatives to fend off attempts by Republicans to decrease air passenger safety, destroy American jobs, and diminish aviation and economic options for rural communities. The House today began debate on the “FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011” (H.R. 658), a controversial four-year reauthorization of the Federal … Continue Reading
Rahall Statement on President Obama’s Goal of Reducing Foreign Oil Imports
March 30, 2011Washington, D.C.- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today released the following statement after President Obama outlined plans to reduce foreign oil imports: “I fully support the President’s ambitious but achievable goal of reducing foreign oil imports by one-third over the next decade - it is in both our national security and best economic interests to do so. With all the recent turmoil in the Middle East, and … Continue Reading
Top Transportation Democrat Rahall Releases Draft Tribal Legislation
March 28, 2011Washington, D.C.- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today released the following statement on draft legislation to address issues raised by tribal leaders at a Native American transportation, infrastructure, and economic development roundtable Rahall convened earlier this month: “In January, I wrote an Op-Ed in Indian Country informing tribal leaders of my move to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure … Continue Reading
Panel Holds Hearing on Rail Safety
March 17, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials today held a hearing on the implementation of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. The Subcommittee received testimony from the following witnesses: The Honorable Elton Gallegly, California's 24th District; Ms. Mackenzie Souser, Camarillo, California; Ms. Jo Strang, Associate Administrator, Office of Safety, Federal Railroad Administration; Mr. Mark Manion, Executive … Continue Reading
Rahall Addresses Transit Union Conference
March 16, 2011Washington, D.C.- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today delivered remarks at the Amalgamated Transit Union’s 2011 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Below are Rahall’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: Remarks of U.S. Representative Nick J. RahallDemocratic Ranking Member, House Committee on Transportation & InfrastructureAmalgamated Transit Union 2011 Legislative ConferenceCapitol HiltonMarch 16, 2011 I … Continue Reading
Subcommittee Panel Examines US Response to Piracy
March 15, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation today held an oversight hearing on the United States response to piracy, particularly in the Horn of Africa region, and its effect on international shipping. The Subcommittee received testimony from the following witnesses: Admiral Kevin Cook, Director of Prevention Policy for Marine Safety, Security, and Stewardship, United States Coast Guard; Mr. William Wechsler, Deputy … Continue Reading