Press Releases
Rahall Fights to Create American Transportation Jobs
May 18, 2012Washington, D.C. - Continuing his efforts to protect and grow American jobs, U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, last night moved to strengthen “Buy America” requirements in long-term surface transportation legislation being considered by a House-Senate conference committee. Today, the House voted 245 to 169 to adopt Rahall’s effort to close loopholes in current law that are being exploited to send transportation … Continue Reading
Senior House Transportation Leaders Introduce Senate Transportation Bill, Urge Immediate Consideration
March 21, 2012- Bill Creates or Saves More than 2 Million American Jobs - Washington, D.C. - Senior Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today joined with more than 80 Members of the House of Representatives to introduce the bipartisan job-creating Senate transportation bill that passed last week by a vote of 74 to 22 and called on House Republicans to abandon their partisan transportation bill and bring the Senate bill up for immediate consideration. “With more than 2.7 million … Continue Reading
BREAKING NEWS – CBO: Republican Surface Transportation Proposal Bankrupts Highway Trust Fund
February 13, 2012- Republican Leadership’s Bill Falls $78 Billion Short Over Ten-Year Period - Washington, D.C. - According to a new analysis released this afternoon by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Republican Leadership’s surface transportation bill that the House is expected to act on later this week would bankrupt the Highway Trust Fund by 2016 and create a $78 billion funding shortfall over a ten-year period. “The Republican Leadership’s partisan signature ‘jobs’ bill is not … Continue Reading
Rahall Statement on Administration’s Budget
February 13, 2012Washington, 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 the Administration unveiled its Fiscal Year 2013 budget: “It was predictable that the arrival of the President’s budget on Capitol Hill would be met with partisan rhetoric and finger-pointing. But given that it comes at a time when the Congress is poised to consider major legislation that could hold vast job-growing … Continue Reading
House Passes Long-Term FAA Authorization That Keeps West Virginia Rural Air Service Flying
February 03, 2012Washington, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives today put its final seal of approval on a four-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that will continue to ensure rural air service to communities in West Virginia and across the country through the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. “I am pleased that Congress has flat-out rejected the proposal of the original House-passed bill that would have terminated the Essential Air Service program, which directly … Continue Reading
Rahall: Let’s Put Americans Back to Work Rebuilding America
January 25, 2012Washington, 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 President Obama’s State of the Union Address: “I am pleased that the State of the Union address highlighted the need to create good jobs here in America. We have a real opportunity - and responsibility - to create those jobs now by making adequate investments in our Nation’s crumbling surface transportation … Continue Reading
Rahall Unveils Major Proposal to Create American Jobs
December 01, 2011Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was joined by Committee Members, labor leaders, and a U.S. manufacturer today to introduce legislation to create American jobs and revitalize American manufacturing through Federal transportation and infrastructure investments. “We are here today because many Americans, still recovering from the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, are … Continue Reading
Rahall, Transportation Leaders to Unveil Major Proposal to Create American Jobs
November 30, 2011Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will be joined by Committee Members and transportation leaders tomorrow to unveil a major proposal to create American jobs. Who: Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), Ranking Member, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), Ranking Member, Subcommittee on … Continue Reading
Rahall, Petri Unveil Legislation to Create Transportation Jobs for American Veterans
November 18, 2011Washington, D.C. - To combat ongoing high unemployment among American veterans, U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and U.S. Representative Tom Petri (R-WI), Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, today introduced bipartisan legislation to create transportation jobs for American veterans. “The brave men and women who have put their lives on the line in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere deserve to be at the front of … Continue Reading
Rahall Statement on Republican Surface Transportation “Proposal”
November 17, 2011Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today held a press conference after House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Chairman John Mica (R-FL) unveiled the House Republican ‘proposal’ for a long-term surface transportation reauthorization. Below are Rahall’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: “Today, House Republicans announced a plan short on details but long on expectations to reauthorize our surface … Continue Reading
TODAY: Rahall, DeFazio to Hold Press Conference on House Republican Surface Transportation “Proposal”
November 17, 2011***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TODAY: Rahall, DeFazio to Hold Press Conference on House Republican Surface Transportation “Proposal” Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and U.S. Representative Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR), top Democrat on the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, will hold a press conference today to discuss the House Republican “proposal” for a long-term surface transportation … Continue Reading
Rahall Addresses 2011 West Virginians for Better Transportation Conference
November 14, 2011Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today discussed the importance of investing in America’s transportation future to help grow West Virginia’s economy at the 2011West Virginians for Better Transportation Conference in Charleston, West Virginia. “Corporations, consumers, construction crews, and most of my colleagues in Congress all manage to see that America can emerge from this recession stronger … Continue Reading
Rahall to Address West Virginians for Better Transportation Conference
November 10, 2011Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will discuss the importance of transportation investments while addressing the 2011 West Virginians for Better Transportation Conference on November 14, 2011, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston, West Virginia. The Committee is in the process of developing a multi-year surface transportation bill that Rahall hopes will address the growing backlog of … Continue Reading
Rahall, Transportation Advocates to Hold Press Conference Tuesday to Discuss Dangerous Bridges
October 17, 2011Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will be joined by transportation organizations and advocates at a press conference under the Route 16 “Mabscott Overhead Bridge” in Beckley to discuss the importance of Congress passing a robust multi-year surface transportation bill. “The collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967 was a tragic example of our Nation’s decaying transportation systems, but should serve … Continue Reading
Amtrak Announces Record Ridership as Republicans Rush to Auction Off its Assets
October 13, 2011Washington, D.C. - Amtrak today announced that a record 30.2 million passengers traveled on its trains in Fiscal Year 2011, far surpassing any other year on record. Despite this record ridership, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives continue to attempt to dismantle the carrier through paltry budgets and a partisan plan to privatize its operations. “Americans are returning to the rails in record numbers, yet Republicans are pulling out all of the stops in their rush to auction off … Continue Reading
GAO Report: Every State Receives More Highway Funding than it Contributes to the Highway Trust Fund
October 12, 2011Washington, D.C. - Over the course of the last multi-year surface transportation authorization (SAFETEA-LU) from 2005 to 2009, every state received more funding for highway programs than what they contributed to the Highway Trust Fund, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report being released today that was requested by U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “Instead of being consumed by the parochial … Continue Reading
Transportation Leaders Introduce Bill to Create Jobs, Protect Water Quality
October 12, 2011Washington, D.C. - Leaders on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation to create American jobs by investing $13.8 billion over five years through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and other efforts to improve water quality. “In addition to creating immediate construction jobs, funding for modern water and wastewater infrastructure improves the quality of life for area residents and helps to provide the kind of basic services needed to … Continue Reading
TTI Report: Cost of Congestion More Than $100 Billion
September 27, 2011- Report Highlights Need for Congress to Pass Robust Surface Transportation Bill - Washington, D.C. - The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) today released its annual Urban Mobility Report, finding that the cost of congestion continues to cost the United States over $100 billion annually. U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said the report highlighted the need for Congress to pass a robust surface transportation … Continue Reading
CEOs: Congress Must Pass Robust Transportation Bill to Rebuild America
September 22, 2011Washington, D.C. - With nearly 150,000 deficient American bridges that are crippling our Nation’s economic competitiveness from coast to coast, CEOs of 20 major U.S. corporations called on Congress to pass a robust multi-year surface transportation bill to create jobs and rebuild America. U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today released the following statement in response to the letter from the CEOs to … Continue Reading
Rahall: Surface and Air Transportation Extensions Keep Construction Crews on the Clock as Congress Completes its Work
September 13, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today passed legislation to keep the Nation’s aviation and surface transportation programs running while Congress completes its work on long-term reauthorizations. “Extending these programs is critical to our economic recovery, and the pending measure does so without any poison pills or draconian cuts to investment in our surface transportation programs,” said U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation … Continue Reading