Press Releases
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
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