Congressman Peter DeFazio was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 1986. He is a member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, with jurisdiction over the newly created Department of Homeland Security.

DeFazio is also a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and serves as ranking member of the Aviation Subcommittee, where he is a vocal advocate for consumers and aviation security. He also serves as a member of he Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, and the Railroad Subcommittee.

DeFazio and his wife, Myrnie Daut, live in Springfield, OR with a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a black Lab, 2 cats and a Dodge Dart.

He has logged over three million miles traveling between Oregon and Washington, DC about three times each month to serve the people of Oregon's Fourth Congressional District in the United States Congress.

One of DeFazio's proudest accomplishments is the $225,031 in after-tax salary he has contributed to scholarships and to the fund to reduce the national debt. Those contributions have funded 134 scholarships for displaced Oregon workers at the five Southwestern Oregon community colleges, and at the University of Oregon. DeFazio funds the scholarships out of congressional pay raises.

Learn more about Rep. DeFazio's accomplishments at his official website.

Rep. Peter DeFazio's Official Website

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It will cost $322 billion to bring the existing public schools into overall good condition. (National Education Association)