Rep. DeFazio Elected Top Democrat on House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

Washington, DC- Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement after his selection as Ranking Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in the 114th Congress:

“For far too long, Congress has taken the easy way out when it comes to investing in our nation’s transportation infrastructure, relying on short-term patches for long-standing problems. But we can’t afford to merely kick the can down the road yet again. We are approaching a critical juncture concerning transportation issues in our country, and with that in mind, I am especially honored to have the strong support of my colleagues to lead the caucus as the new Ranking Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

“While the jurisdiction of the Committee includes areas of great importance to my home state of Oregon - including the Coast Guard, highways and transit, water resources, railroads, aviation and economic development – every state and territory in our country is profoundly affected by the decisions made in this committee. After all, transportation infrastructure is at the heart of the U.S. economy. Our communities and our businesses, both big and small, depend on safe and efficient roads, rails, ports, planes, pipelines and mass transit. Millions of American jobs are directly tied to infrastructure. It is not acceptable to keep shortchanging future generations by allowing our infrastructure to deteriorate to third world status. There are nearly 150,000 structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges on our roads today; trucks are being rerouted because of weight restrictions; and people are wasting time and gasoline in traffic. The U.S. must do better.

“As Ranking Member, I will be a tireless advocate for the kind of infrastructure investment that results in job creation, increased efficiency and strategic growth. Two key vehicles for this investment include the Federal Aviation Administration and surface transportation authorization bills, both of which I plan to tackle immediately in a bipartisan fashion with Chairman Bill Shuster. Together, we can lay the groundwork for infrastructure investment that delivers for generations to come. 

“As I take this position, I’d like to thank Congressman Nick Rahall of West Virginia for his leadership and 38 years of service to this committee and our country. I look forward to continuing his legacy of bipartisanship by working closely with all members of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.”

BACKGROUND

Both the Steering and Policy Committee and the Democratic Caucus voted unanimously today to recommend DeFazio for the Ranking Member position.

DeFazio has served as a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee since he first entered Congress in 1987. During his time on the Committee, he has served as Chairman or Ranking member of four of the six subcommittees: Aviation, Coast Guard, Highways and Transit, and Water Resources and Environment. DeFazio has taken a lead role on several multi-billion dollar surface transportation and FAA reauthorization bills, and worked to strengthen Buy America standards.

Earlier this year, DeFazio served as a conferee to reconcile difference between the House and Senate versions of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, where he successfully secured funding for America’s small ports.

DeFazio currently serves as the Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, where he advocates for the economic security and sustainability of rural communities in Oregon and across the U.S., offers common-sense solutions to promote forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and champions legislation to protect some of the country’s most incredible natural treasures.

###