Press Releases
DeFazio Statement for Hearing on Oversight of Positive Train Control
February 15, 2018DeFazio Statement for Hearing on Oversight of Positive Train Control In case you missed it, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure delivered the following remarks at the February 15, 2018 hearing on Oversight of Positive Train Control Implementation in the United States. Delivered remarks can be found here. Remarks as prepared for delivery are below. Statement of The Honorable Peter DeFazio Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Full … Continue Reading
Defazio: Trump Infrastructure Proposal a Scam, Fails to Address Critical Infrastructure Needs
February 12, 2018For Immediate Release: February 12, 2018 Contact: Jen Adler (DeFazio), 202-225-4472 Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following response to the release of President Donald Trump's infrastructure proposal: "For more than a year, we have been hearing from President Trump about a big, beautiful infrastructure proposal. Now, it turns out President Trump's plan is embarrassingly small. … Continue Reading
Congressman Peter DeFazio Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
February 09, 2018Congressman Peter DeFazio Delivers Weekly Democratic Address Washington, D.C. - Congressman Peter DeFazio of Oregon, Ranking Member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week's address, DeFazio denounced President Trump's harmful plan to privatize critical government functions and create windfalls for Wall Street, and highlighted Democrats' A Better Deal to Rebuild America, a bold infrastructure proposal unveiled by House … Continue Reading
DeFazio Releases Report Showing Serious Gaps in DOT’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Program
February 08, 2018DeFazio Releases Report Showing Serious Gaps in DOT's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program Drug use among transportation workers has significantly increased since 2006 Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released a Democratic staff report that found there are significant gaps in the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) drug and alcohol testing program and highlighted the risk to our transportation system … Continue Reading
DeFazio Announces Changes to the Democratic Leadership and Membership of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
February 06, 2018DeFazio Announces Changes to the Democratic Leadership and Membership of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Washington, D.C. -- Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced changes to the Democratic Leadership and membership of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The Democratic Caucus of the Committee unanimously elected Representative Dina Titus (D-NV) to serve as Ranking Member … Continue Reading
DeFazio Responds to The State Of The Union Address
January 31, 2018DeFazio Responds to The State Of The Union Address Washington, D.C. -- Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement after the State of the Union address by President Donald Trump: “Tonight, I had hoped that President Trump would provide Congress with his vision for a real, robust plan to invest at least $1 trillion to rebuild our nation’s crumbling roads, bridges, ports, airports, water infrastructure and … Continue Reading
DeFazio Responds to The State Of The Union Address
January 30, 2018For Immediate Release: January 30, 2018 Contact: Jen Adler (DeFazio), 202-225-4472 Washington, D.C. -- Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement after the State of the Union address by President Donald Trump: “Tonight, I had hoped that President Trump would provide Congress with his vision for a real, robust plan to invest at least $1 trillion to rebuild our nation’s crumbling roads, bridges, … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Capuano Press Amtrak on Improving Safety Culture and Speeding the Installation of Positive Train Control
January 16, 2018DeFazio, Capuano Press Amtrak on Improving Safety Culture and Speeding the Installation of Positive Train Control Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Michael Capuano (D-MA) sent a letter to Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson requesting a detailed update on Amtrak’s safety culture and … Continue Reading
Top Democrats Introduce Legislation to Speed Up PTC Implementation, Prevent Further PTC Extensions
January 11, 2018Top Democrats Introduce Legislation to Speed Up PTC Implementation, Prevent Further PTC Extensions Legislation would provide funding for PTC implementation and prevent new passenger rail service on routes without PTC Washington, D.C. -- Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Michael Capuano (D-MA) introduced legislation that would speed … Continue Reading
Top Transportation Democrats Urge President Trump to Immediately Fill Long-Vacant Seats on the Surface Transportation Board
January 03, 2018Top Transportation Democrats Urge President Trump to Immediately Fill Long-Vacant Seats on the Surface Transportation Board Washington, D.C. -- Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Michael Capuano (D-MA) sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump, strongly urging him to immediately appoint qualified individuals to fill long-vacant … Continue Reading
DeFazio, Capuano Request PTC Status Update from Chao, Plan to Introduce PTC Legislation in January
January 02, 2018DeFazio, Capuano Request PTC Status Update from Chao, Plan to Introduce PTC Legislation in January Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Michael Capuano (D-MA) sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao requesting a detailed status update on where the railroads are in fully implementing critical Positive Train … Continue Reading
Top Transportation Democrats Push for Stronger Buy America Requirements, Request Copy of Buy America Report
December 18, 2017Top Transportation Democrats Push for Stronger Buy America Requirements, Request Copy of Buy America Report Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Ranking Democrats on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure sent a letter to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) Wilbur Ross and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Mick Mulvaney offering their strong support for strengthening Buy America and Buy American laws. In the letter, the Democrats applaud … Continue Reading
DeFazio Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Safety of Air Transportation of Lithium Batteries
December 14, 2017DeFazio Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Safety of Air Transportation of Lithium Batteries Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced H.R. 4643, the Safe Air Transport of Hazardous Materials Act of 2017, legislation that provides the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with authority to regulate hazardous materials transported onboard aircraft and eliminates barriers to the United States … Continue Reading
Committee Approves Disaster Recovery Reform and Human Trafficking Legislation at Markup
November 30, 2017This morning, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved sweeping FEMA reform legislation, as well as two bills to address human trafficking on the Nation's highways. "This morning's markup demonstrated what our Committee can accomplish through bipartisan consensus," said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA). "We approved significant FEMA reform legislation that shifts our focus to predisaster mitigation in the wake of a historic hurricane … Continue Reading
DeFazio Demands PHMSA Implement Long-Delayed Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Mandates
November 09, 2017DeFazio Demands PHMSA Implement Long-Delayed Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Mandates Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao highlighting PHMSA’s repeated failure to take action on outstanding safety-critical rulemakings. “We cannot afford to wait until another catastrophic accident occurs and lives are lost for PHMSA to take … Continue Reading
DeFazio Urges OMB Finalize Life-Saving, Connected Vehicle-to-Vehicle Rulemaking
November 07, 2017DeFazio Urges OMB Finalize Life-Saving, Connected Vehicle-to-Vehicle Rulemaking Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Mick Mulvaney urging him to act on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to bring connected vehicle technology, known as Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) to all vehicles. To date, the Trump Administration has … Continue Reading
DeFazio Urges DOT to Use $911 Million of Unused Highway Emergency Relief Funds
October 30, 2017DeFazio Urges DOT to Use $911 Million of Unused Highway Emergency Relief Funds Will Reduce Backlog of $1.76 Billion in Pending Emergency Relief Requests Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Ranking Democrat of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao urging immediate action to address the backlog under the Federal-aid Highway Emergency Relief (ER) program. Currently, the U.S. Department of … Continue Reading
CRS: ATC PRIVATIZATION TRIGGERS BUDGET SEQUESTRATION
October 29, 2017CRS: ATC PRIVATIZATION TRIGGERS BUDGET SEQUESTRATION AIRR Act causes across-the-board cuts to Medicare, Military Retirement Fund payments, FEMA Flood Insurance, and more Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) publicly released a written memorandum from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) that states a controversial … Continue Reading
Top Democrats Demand IG Investigation into Whitefish Energy No-Bid Contract in Puerto Rico
October 27, 2017Top Democrats Demand IG Investigation into Whitefish Energy No-Bid Contract in Puerto Rico Washington, D.C.—Today Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General (IG) John Roth requesting a comprehensive audit and investigation of a $300 million no-bid contract between the Puerto Rico … Continue Reading
DeFazio to Chao: It’s Time DOT Increases Transparency in Air Travel Fees
October 25, 2017DeFazio to Chao: It’s Time DOT Increases Transparency in Air Travel Fees Washington, D.C.—Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao urging for more transparency in the cost of U.S. air travel. In 2016, U.S. airlines took home $7.1 billion from baggage and change or cancellation fees alone. However, due to airlines’ inconsistent fee revenue reporting practices and U.S. … Continue Reading