Subcommittee on Highways & Transit

John J. Duncan, Jr., Chairman

The Highways and Transit Subcommittee has jurisdiction over our nation’s highway, transit, and highway safety programs, as well as the policy that governs how highway and transit projects are planned, approved, and constructed.

In 2012, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a long-term initiative to put Americans back to work, particularly in the hard-hit construction industry, by rebuilding our nation's crumbling roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure.

This measure, the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act (H.R. 7), would set long-term national surface transportation policy, provide for infrastructure improvement projects across the country, and make much needed transportation program reforms.

The Transportation Committee supports a transportation bill that streamlines and reforms federal programs, reduces the amount of federal bureaucracy and mandates, cuts red tape in the project approval process, better leverages our limited resources and the private sector in building infrastructure, and provides more flexibility and long-term funding stability for states to plan major infrastructure improvements. The Committee also supports removing barriers to domestic energy production to help lower energy costs and create jobs for Americans.

On May 8, 2012, the House and Senate began working to resolve differences between bills passed in each chamber. An extension of current programs through June 30, 2012 will ensure that transportation programs are not disrupted and jobs are not lost while work on the longer-term legislation continues. (more information)

Public Transit Safety: Public transportation is the safest form of passenger transportation, yet the Obama Administration has proposed creating a new federal bureaucracy to oversee transit safety. We can provide additional tools and resources to states and local governments to continue to improve oversight of their local transit systems without creating a new federal agency and increasing the size of government. (more information)