Press Releases
Panel Holds Hearing on Increasing Private Sector Participation in Passenger Rail Service
March 11, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials today held a hearing on finding ways to encourage and increase private sector participation in passenger rail service. The Subcommittee received testimony from the following witnesses: The Honorable Joseph Szabo, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration; Mr. Stephen Gardner, Vice President of Policy and Development, Amtrak; Mr. Pat Simmons, Rail Division Director, … Continue Reading
Rahall Urges Smithsonian to Sell Americana Made in America
March 10, 2011-Bill Would Cut off Funding if Smithsonian Continues to Sell Products Made in China- Washington, D.C.- Following media reports documenting the Smithsonian museums’ widespread practice of selling gift shop items manufactured in China, U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, yesterday introduced legislation to help foster growth of American jobs by compelling the Smithsonian to sell only items made in the United … Continue Reading
Rahall Gives Keynote Address at Transportation Convention
March 10, 2011Washington, D.C.- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today gave the keynote address at the 4th Annual Transportation & Infrastructure Convention in Washington, D.C. Below are Rahall’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: Keynote Remarks of U.S. Representative Nick J. RahallRanking Democratic MemberHouse Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure4th Annual Transportation & Infrastructure ConventionRoom 2325 Rayburn … Continue Reading
Subcommittee Panel Examines Budget Requests for Army Corps of Engineers, TVA, NRCS
March 08, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment today held an oversight hearing on the Administration’s budget request and priorities for fiscal year 2012 for the Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Subcommittee received testimony from: The Honorable Jo Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army - Civil Works, United States Army; Lieutenant General Robert Van … Continue Reading
Rahall Presses EPA on Surface Coal Mine Guidance
March 02, 2011Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall, top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today pressed the head of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water on the agency’s inconsistent and unfair surface coal mine permitting process at an oversight hearing on the Administration’s fiscal year 2012 budget request for the EPA. “Those of us who live in southern West Virginia believe that we can have balance between energy development and … Continue Reading
Subcommittee Panel Examines EPA Budget
March 02, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment today held an oversight hearing on the Administration’s budget request and priorities for fiscal year 2012 for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Subcommittee received testimony from Nancy Stoner, Acting Assistant Administrator for Water and Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Below are opening statements of U.S. Representative … Continue Reading
Rahall: Highway Extension Keeps Economy Moving
March 02, 2011Washington, D.C. - As the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee continues its nationwide series of field hearings and listening sessions to craft a long-term surface transportation bill, the House today passed by a vote of 421 - 4 a bipartisan bill that would save American transportation jobs by extending the Nation’s highway, highway safety, and transit programs through September 30, 2011. “Extending these programs is critical to keeping our economy on the road to recovery, and I … Continue Reading
Subcommittee Panel Examines Budget Requests for U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Maritime Administration, Federal Maritime Commissio
March 01, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation today held an oversight hearing on the Administration’s fiscal year 2012 budget requests for the Coast Guard, Maritime Administration, and Federal Maritime Commission. The Subcommittee received testimony from Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr., Commandant, United States Coast Guard; Master Chief Michael P. Leavitt, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, United States Coast … Continue Reading
Rahall Releases Agenda for Native American Roundtable
February 18, 2011Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall, II (D-WV), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today released the agenda for the Native American Transportation, Infrastructure and Economic Development Roundtable he is hosting on March 2, 2011. The purpose of the Roundtable is to hear about native issues within the Committee’s jurisdiction. The agenda follows: Roundtable AgendawithNick J. Rahall, II, Ranking MemberCommittee on Transportation and … Continue Reading
Panel Holds Hearing on Nation’s Rail Infrastructure
February 17, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials today held a hearing on rehabilitating and improving our Nation’s rail infrastructure. 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 Honorable Corrine Brown, Ranking MemberSubcommittee on Railroads, … Continue Reading
Joint Subcommittee Panels Hold Hearing on Pesticides and the Clean Water Act
February 16, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment and the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture today held a joint oversight hearing on pesticides and the Clean Water Act. Below is the opening statement of U.S. Representative Timothy H. Bishop (D-NY), Democratic Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, as prepared for delivery: Statement ofThe Honorable Timothy H. Bishop, Ranking … Continue Reading
Rahall Chides Choking Off Air Service to Rural Communities, Fights to Save American Jobs
February 16, 2011Washington, D.C.- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today attempted to fend off efforts by Committee Republicans to decrease air passenger safety, cut American jobs, compromise the health and safety of workers and the flying public, and diminish aviation and economic options for rural communities. The Committee approved by a vote of 34-25 a controversial four-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation … Continue Reading
Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Costello Statement on FAA Reauthorization Bill
February 16, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today approved by a vote of 34-25 a controversial four-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authored by Republicans and introduced just five days ago. Below is the opening statement of U.S. Representative Jerry F. Costello (D-IL), Democratic Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, as prepared for delivery: STATEMENT OFTHE HONORABLE JERRY F. COSTELLOFULL COMMITTEE MARKUP OFH.R. 658, … Continue Reading
Highways and Transit Panel Receives Testimony on Speeding up Transportation Delivery Process
February 15, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit today held a hearing on “Accelerating the Project Delivery Process: Eliminating Bureaucratic Red Tape and Making Every Dollar Count.” Below is the opening statement of U.S. Representative Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR), Democratic Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, as prepared for delivery: Statement of the Honorable Peter A. DeFazioRanking MemberSubcommittee on Highways and … Continue Reading
Rahall: Administration’s Surface Transportation Plan Keeps Economy on the Road to Recovery
February 14, 2011Washington, D.C.- House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) today released the following statement after the Obama Administration unveiled its comprehensive plan to invest $556 billion in a six-year surface transportation bill: “I strongly support the President’s plan to invest $556 billion in America’s future to create jobs in the U.S., build a transportation system for the 21st Century, and keep our economy on the road to recovery. By infusing an … Continue Reading
Transportation Panel Gathers Information in Beckley
February 14, 2011-Beckley First Stop on Nationwide Transportation Tour- Beckley, W.Va. - The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today held a field hearing in Beckley, W.V., to receive testimony from state and local officials as it drafts a long-term surface transportation bill. The Committee made its first stop in a national series of hearings in Beckley at the request of U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), the top Democrat on the panel, to hear firsthand about the transportation … Continue Reading
Rahall: Republicans Cashing Out Investments in America’s Future Won’t Retire Debts of the Past
February 14, 2011--House Republican Spending Bill Proposes Draconian and Dangerous Cuts to Job-Creating Transportation Investments, Threatening Over 300,000 American Jobs-- Washington, D.C.- House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) today slammed the House Republican Leadership’s spending bill for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011, which proposes draconian and dangerous cuts to programs that keep America’s economy moving forward. The House is expected to begin … Continue Reading
Subcommittee Panels Examine BP National Commission Report
February 11, 2011Washington, D.C. - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation and the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment today held a joint oversight hearing to examine the recommendations from the members of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling (Commission) to improve oil spill prevention and response. The Subcommittees received testimony from the spill’s former National Incident Commander, … Continue Reading
Transportation Panel to Hear from WV Officials in Beckley
February 11, 2011-Beckley First Stop on Nationwide Series of Transportation Hearings- Beckley, W.Va. - The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will travel to Beckley, WV, on Monday to hold a field hearing to gather information as it drafts a long-term surface transportation bill. U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall, top Democrat on the panel, and other Members of the Committee will lead off a national series of hearings in Beckley to hear firsthand about the transportation challenges facing … Continue Reading
Rahall to Bring Transportation Committee to West Virginia
February 10, 2011-Beckley First Stop on Nationwide Series of Transportation Hearings- Beckley, W.Va. - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall, Democratic leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today announced that, at his urging, the Committee will lead off a multistate tour in Beckley, WV, as it crafts a long-term surface transportation bill. “Through my leadership on the Committee, West Virginia will be sitting in the front seat as Congress writes a job-creating transportation bill to … Continue Reading