Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Summary

Focusing on transportation, including civil aviation, railroads, water transportation, transportation safety (except automobile safety and transportation security functions of the Department of Homeland Security), transportation infrastructure, transportation labor, and railroad retirement and unemployment (except revenue measures related thereto)

Senate Counterpart: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Subcommittees:

  • Aviation
  • Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
  • Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
  • Highways and Transit
  • Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
  • Water Resources and Environment

Chair: Sam Graves, Missouri, 
Ranking Member: Rick Larsen, Washington

Majority Staff Director: Jack Ruddy
Minority Staff Director: Katherine W Dedrick
Meeting Location: 2165 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; Phone: (202) 225-9446

Featured Video: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Members’ Day Hearing – April 14, 2021
Web Links

OnAir Post: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

News

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Committee Press Releases and News

Press Releases, op-Eds and news can be found here at the committee website.

Chairs DeFazio, Carbajal Announce Hearing on Positioning the U.S. Coast Guard for the Future
House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureOctober 15, 2021

Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Salud Carbajal (D-CA) announced the subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, “Achieving Mission Balance: Positioning the Coast Guard for the Future.” This hearing will examine how the U.S. Coast Guard allocates hours and resources among its multiple statutory missions, as well as how it measures mission performance.

More information about the hearing, including a witness list and a livestream, can be found here once available.

Chair DeFazio Statement on Federal Indictment of Boeing’s Former 737 MAX Technical Pilot Mark Forkner
House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureOctober 15, 2021

Washington, DC – Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement:

“Senior leaders throughout Boeing are responsible for the culture of concealment that ultimately led to the 737 MAX crashes and the death of 346 innocent people—Mark Forkner’s indictment should not be the end of the accountability for this colossal and tragic failure,” Chair DeFazio said. “The FAA must work urgently to implement the bipartisan legislation we designed to prevent this type of systemic failure from ever happening again.”

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will mark up the transportation and infrastructure title on Sept. 14 as part of the budget reconciliation process for Fiscal Year 2022.

The proposal includes nearly $20.15 billion in passenger rail and transit funding, including:

  • $9.9 billion in competitive grants to support access to affordable housing and the enhancement of mobility for residents in disadvantaged communities. The program would direct the Federal Transit Administration and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to a program that would improve job and opportunity access, better connect residents to medical car and/or enhance access to grocery stores in food deserts.
  • $10 billion for passenger rail improvement, modernization and emissions reduction grants that will be used for the planning and construction of high-speed rail projects.
  • $150 million in credit risk premium assistance through the railroad rehabilitation infrastructure and financing program, of which not less than 50 percent will be appropriated for passenger rail projects.

The proposal also includes $8 million for a grant to a qualified higher education institution to operate and study highly automated vehicles and mobility enhancements and make the research available publicly, as well as $6 billion for local surface transportation priorities.

About

Jurisdiction and Rules

  • Transportation, including civil aviation, railroads, water transportation, transportation safety (except automobile safety and transportation security functions of the Department of Homeland Security), transportation infrastructure, transportation labor, and railroad retirement and unemployment (except revenue measures related thereto)
  • Commercial space transportation
  • Coast Guard, including lifesaving service, lighthouses, lightships, ocean derelicts, and the Coast Guard Academy
  • Federal management of emergencies and natural disasters
  • Flood control and improvement of rivers and harbors
  • Inland waterways
  • Inspection of merchant marine vessels, lights and signals, lifesaving equipment, and fire protection on such vessels
  • Navigation and laws relating thereto, including pilotage
  • Registering and licensing of vessels and small boats
  • Rules and international arrangements to prevent collisions at sea
  • The Capitol Building, the Senate and House Office Buildings
  • Construction or maintenance of roads and post roads (other than appropriations therefore)
  • Construction or reconstruction, maintenance, and care of buildings and grounds of the Botanic Garden, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution
  • Merchant marine (except for national security aspects thereof)
  • Purchase of sites and construction of post offices, customhouses, Federal courthouses, and Government buildings within the District of Columbia
  • Oil and other pollution of navigable waters, including inland, coastal, and ocean waters
  • Marine affairs, including coastal zone management, as they relate to oil and other pollution of navigable waters
  • Public buildings and occupied or improved grounds of the United States generally
  • Public works for the benefit of navigation, including bridges and dams (other than international bridges and dams)
  • Related transportation regulatory agencies (except the Transportation Security Administration)
  • Roads and the safety thereof
  • Water power

Committee Rules (117th Congress)

Source: Committee website

Members

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Sam Graves, Missouri
Rick Crawford, Arkansas
Daniel Webster, Florida
Thomas Massie, Kentucky
Scott Perry, Pennsylvania
Brian Babin, Texas
Garret Graves, Louisiana
David Rouzer, North Carolina
Mike Bost, Illinois
Doug LaMalfa, California
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas
Brian Mast, Florida
Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico
Pete Stauber, Minnesota
Tim Burchett, Tennessee
Dusty Johnson, South Dakota
Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey, Vice Chair
Troy Nehls, Texas
Lance Gooden, Texas
Tracey Mann, Kansas
Burgess Owens, Utah
Rudy Yakym, Indiana
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Oregon
Chuck Edwards, North Carolina
Thomas Kean Jr., New Jersey
Anthony D’Esposito, New York
Eric Burlison, Missouri
John James, Michigan
Derrick Van Orden, Wisconsin
Brandon Williams, New York
Marc Molinaro, New York
Mike Collins, Georgia
Mike Ezell, Mississippi
John Duarte, California
Aaron Bean, Florida

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Rick Larsen, Washington
Eleanor Holmes Norton, District of Columbia
Grace Napolitano, California
Steve Cohen, Tennessee
John Garamendi, California
Hank Johnson, Georgia
André Carson, Indiana
Dina Titus, Nevada
Jared Huffman, California
Julia Brownley, California
Frederica Wilson, Florida
Donald Payne Jr., New Jersey
Mark DeSaulnier, California
Salud Carbajal, California
Greg Stanton, Arizona, Vice Ranking Member
Colin Allred, Texas
Sharice Davids, Kansas
Chuy García, Illinois
Chris Pappas, New Hampshire
Seth Moulton, Massachusetts
Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts
Marilyn Strickland, Washington
Troy Carter, Louisiana
Pat Ryan, New York
Mary Peltola, Alaska
Rob Menendez, New Jersey
Val Hoyle, Oregon
Emilia Sykes, Ohio
Hillary Scholten, Michigan
Valerie Foushee, North Carolina

Web Links

Legislation

Hearings

Source: Committee website

Markups

Source: Committee website

Subcommittees

Aviation

Source: Committee Website

Jurisdiction
The Subcommittee on Aviation has jurisdiction over all aspects of civil aviation, including safety, infrastructure, labor, commerce, and international issues. All programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) except for research activities, are within the purview of the Subcommittee.

The Aviation Subcommittee is also traditionally the lead subcommittee with jurisdiction over the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents and other transportation accidents. The Essential Air Service program, which ensures commercial air service to smaller communities, the war risk insurance program, which provides insurance coverage for commercial flights to high-risk parts of the world, the National Mediation Board (NMB), and passenger and cargo commercial space transportation also fall within the purview of the Aviation Subcommittee.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Garret Graves, Louisiana
Thomas Massie, Kentucky
Marc Molinaro, New York
Burgess Owens, Utah
Aaron Bean, Florida
Scott Perry, Pennsylvania
Brian Mast, Florida
John James, Michigan
Dusty Johnson, South Dakota
Mike Collins, Georgia
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Oregon
Pete Stauber, Minnesota
Tom Kean Jr., New Jersey
Tim Burchett, Tennessee
Rick Crawford, Arkansas
Lance Gooden, Texas
Tracey Mann, Kansas
Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas
Rudy Yakym, Indiana

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Rick Larsen, Washington
Steve Cohen, Tennessee
André Carson, Indiana
Sharice Davids, Kansas
Hank Johnson, Georgia
Dina Titus, Nevada
Chuy Garcia, Illinois
Julia Brownley, California
Donald Payne Jr., New Jersey
Mark DeSaulnier, California
Greg Stanton, Arizona
Colin Allred, Texas
Eleanor Holmes Norton, District of Columbia
Salud Carbajal, California
Robert Menendez, New Jersey
Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts
Donald Payne, New Jersey
Mary Peltola, Alaska
Hillary Scholten, Michigan
Frederica Wilson, Florida

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation

Source: Committee Website

Jurisdiction
The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over maritime safety, security, law enforcement, and defense. Additionally, the Subcommittee exercises jurisdiction over merchant marine matters such as ocean shipping and cruise ships. The jurisdiction of this Subcommittee does not extend to matters directly related to national defense, which are handled by the House Armed Services Committee.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Daniel Webster (R-FL)
Brian Babin (TX)
Brian J. Mast (FL)
Jenniffer González-Colón (PR)
Jefferson Van Drew (NJ)
Mike Ezell (MS), Vice Chair
Aaron Bean (FL)
Sam Graves (MO) (ex officio)

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
ohn Garamendi (CA)
Chris Pappas (NH)
Jake Auchincloss (MA)
Mary Sattler Peltola (AK)
Hillary J. Scholten (MI)
Rick Larsen (WA) (ex officio)

Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management

Source: Committee Website

Jurisdiction
The Subcommittee oversees many federal real estate and economic development programs. The real estate management arm of the Subcommittee, for example, oversees the Public Buildings Service, which is responsible for the infrastructure and use of the Capitol Grounds, the Smithsonian Institution, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Subcommittee also manages the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and certain aspects of the Department of Homeland Security.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Scott Perry (R-PA)
Garret Graves (LA)
Jenniffer González-Colón (PR)
Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR), Vice Chair
Anthony D’Esposito (NY)
Derrick Van Orden (WI)
Mike Ezell (MS)
Celeste Maloy (UT)
Sam Graves (MO) (ex officio)

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Dina Titus (D-NV)
Dina Titus (NV), Ranking Member
Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)
Sharice Davids (KS)
Troy A. Carter (LA)
Grace F. Napolitano (CA)
John Garamendi (CA)
Jared Huffman (CA)
Rick Larsen (WA) (ex officio)

Highways and Transit

Source: Committee Website

Jurisdiction
The subcommittee oversees highway, transit, and highway safety programs in the United States, as well as policy governing how highway and transit projects are planned, approved, and constructed. Agencies within its jurisdiction are the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It also oversees portions of the Clean Air Act related to vehicle fuel economy, including Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Rick Crawford (R-AR)
Daniel Webster (FL)
Thomas Massie (KY)
Mike Bost (IL)
Doug LaMalfa (CA)
Pete Stauber (MN)
Tim Burchett (TN)
Dusty Johnson (SD)
Jefferson Van Drew (NJ)
Troy E. Nehls (TX)
Tracey Mann (KS)
Burgess Owens (UT)
Rudy Yakym, III (IN)
Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR)
Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (NJ)
Anthony D’Esposito (NY)
Eric Burlison (MO)
Derrick Van Orden (WI)
Brandon Williams (NY)
Marcus J. Molinaro (NY)
Mike Collins (GA)
John S. Duarte (CA), Vice Chair
Aaron Bean (FL)
Celeste Maloy (UT)
Sam Graves (MO) (ex officio)

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Jared Huffman (CA)
Chris Pappas (NH)
Marilyn Strickland (WA)
Patrick Ryan (NY)
Robert Menendez (NJ)
Val T. Hoyle (OR)
Valerie P. Foushee (NC)
Grace F. Napolitano (CA)
Steve Cohen (TN)
Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA)
Julia Brownley (CA)
Greg Stanton (AZ)
Colin Z. Allred (TX)
Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL)
Seth Moulton (MA)
Emilia Strong Sykes (OH)
John Garamendi (CA)
Dina Titus (NV)
Salud O. Carbojal (CA)
Jake Auchincloss (MA)
Mark Desaulnier (CA)
Rick Larsen (WA) (ex officio)

Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials

Source: Committee Website

Jurisdiction
The Subcommittee oversees regulation of railroads by the Surface Transportation Board, including economic regulations; Amtrak, rail safety, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the National Mediation Board, which handles railway labor disputes. It is also oversees of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is responsible for the safety of the nation’s oil and gas pipelines as well as the transportation of hazardous materials.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Troy Nehls (R-TX)
Brian Babin (TX)
David Rouzer (NC)
Mike Bost (IL)
Doug LaMalfa (CA)
Bruce Westerman (AR)
Pete Stauber (MN)
Tim Burchett (TN)
Dusty Johnson (SD)
Tracey Mann (KS)
Rudy Yakym, III (IN)
Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (NJ)
Eric Burlison (MO)
Brandon Williams (NY), Vice Chair
Marcus J. Molinaro (NY)
John S. Duarte (CA)
Sam Graves (MO) (ex officio)

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ)
Frederica S. Wilson (FL)
Seth Moulton (MA)
Troy A. Carter (LA)
Andre Carson (IN)
Mark DeSaulnier (CA)
Marilyn Strickland (WA)
Valerie P. Foushee (NC)
Grace F. Napolitano (CA)
Steve Cohen (TN)
Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA)
Jared Huffman (CA)
Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL)
Rob Menendez (NJ)
Rick Larsen (WA) (ex officio)

Water Resources and Environment

Source: Committee Website

Jurisdiction
The subcommittee has jurisdiction over water conservation, pollution control, infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup, the civil works programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Clean Water Act programs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Other agencies under the subcommittee’s jurisdiction include the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the International Boundary Water Commission, and certain programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: David Rouzer (R-NC)
Daniel Webster (FL)
Thomas Massie (KY)
Brian Babin (TX)
Mike Bost (IL)
Doug LaMalfa (CA)
Bruce Westerman (AR)
Brian J. Mast (FL)
Jenniffer González-Colón (PR)
Burgess Owens (UT)
Eric Burlison (MO)
John James (MI), Vice Chair
Derrick Van Orden (WI)
Brandon Williams (NY)
Mike Collins (GA)
Mike Ezell (MS)
John S. Duarte (CA)
Celeste Maloy (UT)
Sam Graves (MO) (ex officio)

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
John Garamendi (CA)
Emilia Strong Sykes (OH)
Jared Huffman (CA)
Frederica S. Wilson (FL)
Patrick Ryan (NY)
Val T. Hoyle (OR)
Hillary Scholten (MI)
Julia Brownley (CA)
Mark DeSaulnier (CA)
Greg Stanton (AZ)
Chris Pappas (NH)
Seth Moulton (MA)
Troy A. Carter (LA)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)
Rick Larsen (WA) (ex officio)

More Information

Investigations

Source: Committee website

Campaign Finance

Source: Open Secrets webpages

Subcommittees

Aviation

Source: Committee website

Jurisdiction

The Subcommittee on Aviation has jurisdiction over all aspects of civil aviation, including safety, infrastructure, labor, and international issues. Within this scope of responsibilities, the Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a modal administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). This jurisdiction covers all programs within the FAA as well as aviation programs of the USDOT with respect to economic regulation of air carriers and passenger airline service. In addition, the Subcommittee has jurisdiction over commercial space transportation, the National Mediation Board, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Issues within the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Aviation include:

  • Air traffic control modernization
  • Air traffic management
  • Certification of aircraft and equipment
  • UAS traffic management
  • Counter-UAS authorization, systems, and technology
  • Airport capacity and infrastructure
  • Airport Improvement Program grants
  • Airspace matters
  • Airline competition and antitrust issues
  • Aviation safety
  • Aviation security (issues that affect commerce and safety)
  • Commercial aviation and air carrier operations (both passenger and cargo)
  • Commercial space transportation and tourism
  • Airline consumer protection and service
  • Environmental requirements
  • Essential Air Service and other small-community air service programs
  • General aviation
  • Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and other new aircraft
  • International aviation
  • National Mediation Board
  • National Transportation Safety Board
  • War risk insurance
  • Use of navigable airspace

Majority members:
Rick Larsen, Washington, Chair
Steve Cohen, Tennessee
André Carson, Indiana
Sharice Davids, Kansas, Vice Chair
Kai Kahele, Hawaii
Nikema Williams, Georgia
Hank Johnson, Georgia
Dina Titus, Nevada
Sean Patrick Maloney, New York
Julia Brownley, California
Donald Payne Jr., New Jersey
Mark DeSaulnier, California
Stephen F. Lynch, Massachusetts
Anthony G. Brown, Maryland
Greg Stanton, Arizona
Colin Allred, Texas
Conor Lamb, Pennsylvania
Eleanor Holmes Norton, District of Columbia
Eddie Bernice Johnson, Texas
John Garamendi, California

Minority members:
Garret Graves, Louisiana, Ranking Member
Don Young, Alaska
Thomas Massie, Kentucky
Scott Perry, Pennsylvania
John Katko, New York
Brian Mast, Florida
Mike Gallagher, Wisconsin
Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania
Troy Balderson, Ohio
Pete Stauber, Minnesota
Tim Burchett, Tennessee
Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey
Troy Nehls, Texas
Nancy Mace, South Carolina
Beth Van Duyne, Texas
Carlos A. Giménez, Florida
Michelle Steel, California

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation

Source: Committee website

Jurisdiction

The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation has jurisdiction over the United States Coast Guard, including its duties, organization, functions, and powers. Within the Committee’s broader maritime transportation jurisdiction, the Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the regulation of vessels and seamen; international conventions related to the safety of life at sea; and the regulation of ocean shipping, domestic cabotage, and the merchant marine, except as it relates to national defense.

The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over:

  • Title 14, United States Code — Coast Guard
  • Title 46, United State Code — Shipping, except those provisions dealing with national defense (generally codified in subtitle IV of title 46)
  • The Jones Act (generally codified in chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code)
  • Oil Pollution Act
  • Ports and Waterways Safety Act
  • Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships
  • Deepwater Port Act
  • Marine Debris Act
  • Title X of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 — Clean Hulls
  • Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Species Prevention and Control Act of 1990
  • General bridge statutes
  • Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, as it relates to boating safety and infrastructure
  • Title II of the Act of June 17, 1917 (50 United States Code. 191-198)
  • Section 1131 of title 49, United States Code — Transportation, as it relates to the investigation of maritime casualties

The United States Coast Guard was established on January 28, 1915, through the consolidation of the Revenue Cutter Service (established in 1790) and the Lifesaving Service (established in 1848). The Coast Guard later assumed the duties of three other agencies: the Lighthouse Service (established in 1789), the Steamboat Inspection Service (established in 1838), and the Bureau of Navigation (established in 1884).

The Coast Guard remained a part of the Department of the Treasury until 1967, when it was transferred to the newly created Department of Transportation. Under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296), the Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Under section 2 of title 14, United States Code, the Coast Guard has primary responsibility to enforce or assist in the enforcement of all applicable federal laws on, under, and over the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; to ensure safety of life and property at sea; to carry out domestic and international icebreaking activities; and, as one of the five armed services of the United States, to maintain defense readiness to operate as a specialized service in the Navy upon the declaration of war or when the President directs.

The Coast Guard is composed of approximately 41,000 active duty military personnel, 8,000 reservists, 8,500 civilian employees, and 30,000 volunteers of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Coast Guard has defended the Nation in every war since 1790, including the latest conflicts in the Middle East.

The Coast Guard is directed by a Commandant, who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate for a four-year term. In 20184, President Trump appointed Admiral Karl L. Schultz as the 26th Commandant of the Coast Guard.

The United States Maritime Transportation System (MTS) consists of waterways, ports and their intermodal connections, vessels, vehicles, and system users, as well as federal maritime navigation systems that are scattered throughout 3.5 million square miles of ocean area and along 95100,000 miles of coastline and inland waterways. Commercial shipping carries annually more than 95 percent by volume of U.S. overseas trade valued at more than $8.7 billion through these waters and is critical to U.S. economic health. The MTS’s objective is the safe, secure, and environmentally sound movement of goods, people, and military assets in the most efficient and economically effective manner possible. The Subcommittee oversees the federal safety, security, environmental, and economic regulation of maritime transportation.

Maritime transportation regulatory activities overseen by the Subcommittee include regulation of vessels and merchant seamen, including inspection and regulation of commercial vessels, carriage of passengers and freight cargoes; regulation of uninspected vessels, recreational vessels, and commercial fishing vessels; investigation of marine casualties; merchant seaman licensing and credentialing; manning of vessels; pilotage; documentation and measurement of vessels; boating safety programs; and related international agreements.

The Subcommittee also has jurisdiction over certain marine environmental protection activities carried out by the Coast Guard and generally related to the operation of vessels, including oil pollution, air pollution, plastics pollution, aquatic nuisance species transported by vessels via ballast water, and related international agreements.

The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over port security activities that impact the operations of the Coast Guard, including vessel and facility vulnerability assessments and security plans, security incident response, maritime safety and security teams, foreign port assessments, maritime security advisory committees, and maritime domain awareness activities and initiatives.

The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the regulation of ocean shipping, including international ocean shipping, cruise ship financial responsibility, and unfair foreign shipping practices. The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) regulates ocean shipping principally under the Shipping Act of 1984, as amended (Chapters 401-413, title 46 United States Code). The Subcommittee also exercises jurisdiction over ocean common carriers engaged in the domestic offshore trades, as well as matters involving maritime liability.

Domestic maritime cabotage, or coastwise trade, also falls under the Subcommittee’s jurisdiction. Domestic maritime cabotage laws, popularly known as the Jones Act, govern shipping of goods and passengers by water between any two points in the United States. Vessels engaged in the coastwise trade must be U.S. flagged, built, crewed, and owned. The Coast Guard documents vessels engaged in the Jones Act, or “coastwise” trade. Customs and Border Protection enforces violations of these laws, and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) controls the sale or transfer of U.S. documented vessels to foreign owners.

In addition, the Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the merchant marine, except as it relates to national security. MARAD administers various programs designed to provide financial assistance and to promote and develop the domestic merchant marine industry authorized under Subtitle V of title 46 United States Code.

Majority members:
Salud Carbajal, California, Chair
Rick Larsen, Washington
Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts
Sean Patrick Maloney, New York
Alan Lowenthal, California
Anthony G. Brown, Maryland
Chris Pappas, New Hampshire, Vice Ch

Minority members:
Salud Carbajal, California, Chair
Rick Larsen, Washington
Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts
Sean Patrick Maloney, New York
Alan Lowenthal, California
Anthony G. Brown, Maryland
Chris Pappas, New Hampshire, Vice Chair
Bob Gibbs, Ohio, Ranking Member
Don Young, Alaska
Randy Weber, Texas
Mike Gallagher, Wisconsin
Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey
Nicole Malliotakis, New York

Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management

Source: Committee website

Jurisdiction

The Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management is responsible for the authorization and oversight of federal real estate programs, including construction, repair, alteration, maintenance, and enhancement of such real property; the authorization and oversight of programs promoting economic development in communities suffering economic distress; the authorization and oversight of programs addressing the federal management of emergencies and disasters; and a variety of measures affecting homeland security, including the all-hazards nature of the federal response to disasters and the Federal Protective Service.

The asset management activities of the Subcommittee jurisdiction include: improved grounds of the United States, generally, and measures relating to the Public Buildings Service (PBS) of the General Services Administration (GSA)—the civilian landlord of the federal government—including the planning, site and design, construction, acquisition, and renovation of public buildings, courthouses, and border facilities, and the leasing of space for federal employees; the physical plant and infrastructure of the Capitol Complex and use of the Capitol Grounds; the facilities of the White House complex; the facilities of the Smithsonian Institution, including all new and proposed facilities; facilities of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Union Station Redevelopment; Judiciary Centers; measures relating to the location, use, accessibility, energy conservation, security, health and safety, and transfer or exchange of federal buildings; and the naming of federal buildings and courthouses.

The economic development activities of the Subcommittee include jurisdiction over the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Denali Commission, the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), the Northern Great Plains Regional Authority, the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, the Southwest Border Regional Commission, and the Northern Border Regional Commission.

The Subcommittee’s jurisdiction of federal management of emergencies and natural disasters includes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) oversight and activities relating to disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, as well as programs relating to first responders.  These activities are authorized by the Stafford Act, the Homeland Security Act of 20002, Title VI of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007, and the “Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act” (PKEMRA).  The Subcommittee is also responsible for the all-hazards nature of the National Preparedness System (“NPS”) and a national preparedness goal that is consistent with the National Incident Management System (“NIMS”) and the National Response Framework (“NRF”).  These programs, plans, and directives form the basis of the national approach to emergency preparedness and response.

Majority members:
Dina Titus, Nevada, Chair
Eleanor Holmes Norton, District of Columbia
Sharice Davids, Kansas
Chris Pappas, New Hampshire
Grace Napolitano, California
John Garamendi, California

Minority members:
Daniel Webster, Florida, Ranking Member
Thomas Massie, Kentucky
Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico
Michael Guest, Mississippi
Beth Van Duyne, Texas
Carlos A. Giménez, Florida

Highways and Transit

Source: Committee website

Jurisdiction

The Subcommittee on Highways and Transit is responsible for the development of national surface transportation policy, construction and improvement of highway and transit facilities, implementation of highway and transit safety programs and research activities, and regulation of commercial motor vehicle operations. Within this scope of responsibilities, the Subcommittee has jurisdiction over many U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) programs, including the following:

  • Federal-aid Highway Program administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
  • Federal transit programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
  • Highway safety grants and research programs administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  • Commercial motor vehicle safety programs and regulations administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
  • Surface transportation research administered by FHWA, FTA, FMCSA, NHSTA and coordinated through the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST)

Many of these agencies, especially FTA and FMCSA, also have security oversight and enforcement responsibilities as part of their regulatory functions. In addition, the Subcommittee has jurisdiction over certain provisions of the Clean Air Act pertaining to air quality compliance through the transportation planning and project development process administered by FHWA and FTA.

Majority members:
Rodney Davis, Illinois, Ranking Member
Don Young, Alaska
Rick Crawford, Arkansas
Bob Gibbs, Ohio
Thomas Massie, Kentucky
Scott Perry, Pennsylvania
John Katko, New York
Brian Babin, Texas
David Rouzer, North Carolina
Mike Bost, Illinois
Doug LaMalfa, California
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas
Mike Gallagher, Wisconsin
Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania
Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico
Troy Balderson, Ohio
Pete Stauber, Minnesota
Tim Burchett, Tennessee
Dusty Johnson, South Dakota
Michael Guest, Mississippi
Troy Nehls, Texas
Nancy Mace, South Carolina
Nicole Malliotakis, New York
Beth Van Duyne, Texas
Carlos A. Giménez, Florida
Michelle Steel, California

Minority members:
Rodney Davis, Illinois, Ranking Member
Don Young, Alaska
Rick Crawford, Arkansas
Bob Gibbs, Ohio
Thomas Massie, Kentucky
Scott Perry, Pennsylvania
John Katko, New York
Brian Babin, Texas
David Rouzer, North Carolina
Mike Bost, Illinois
Doug LaMalfa, California
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas
Mike Gallagher, Wisconsin
Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania
Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico
Troy Balderson, Ohio
Pete Stauber, Minnesota
Tim Burchett, Tennessee
Dusty Johnson, South Dakota
Michael Guest, Mississippi
Troy Nehls, Texas
Nancy Mace, South Carolina
Nicole Malliotakis, New York
Beth Van Duyne, Texas
Carlos A. Giménez, Florida
Michelle Steel, California

Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials

Source: Committee website

Jurisdiction

The Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials has jurisdiction over the economic and safety regulation of railroads and the agencies that administer those regulations.  Economic regulation is administered by the five-member Surface Transportation Board (STB).  This independent agency also has the authority to address national emergencies as they affect the nation’s rail transportation system.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is responsible for administering and overseeing railroad safety laws, railroad infrastructure and development programs, performing research and developing technology, and has federal oversight of Amtrak.

Amtrak is the nation’s major provider of intercity passenger rail service.  Also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak was established by law in 1970 and assumed the responsibility from private sector railroads for providing passenger rail services.  The Subcommittee continues to oversee efforts to increase efficiency and improve service in Amtrak’s operations.

The Subcommittee also has jurisdiction over the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which is responsible for providing regulations and safety oversight of pipelines and pipeline facilities, as well as overseeing the transportation of hazardous materials.

Railroad retirement benefits and unemployment systems, as well as rail labor relations also fall under the jurisdiction of this subcommittee.

Issues and agencies under the jurisdiction of the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee include:

Economic regulation of railroads
Surface Transportation Board (STB)
Railroad safety, including safety practices, equipment, and reporting
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Railroad development programs, such as high-speed rail research and development
Rail infrastructure programs
Rail security
Amtrak
Amtrak Inspector General
Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission
Railroad retirement (regarding the benefit aspects) and unemployment
Railroad Retirement Board, which administers the retirement and unemployment programs unique to railroads
Railroad Retirement Board Inspector General
National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust
Railway Labor Act
The National Mediation Board, which administers the Railway Labor Act
Federal Employers’ Liability Act, which is the railroad worker-compensation statute
Hazardous materials transportation
Pipeline transportation safety
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

Majority members:
Donald Payne Jr., New Jersey, Chair
Tom Malinowski, New Jersey
Seth Moulton, Massachusetts
Marie Newman, Illinois
Steve Cohen, Tennessee
Albio Sires, New Jersey
André Carson, Indiana
Frederica Wilson, Florida
Jesús “Chuy” García, Illinois
Marilyn Strickland, Washington
Grace Napolitano, California
Hank Johnson, Georgia
Dina Titus, Nevada
Jared Huffman, California
Stephen F. Lynch, Massachusetts
Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts

Minority members:
Rick Crawford, Arkansas, Ranking Member
Scott Perry, Pennsylvania
Rodney Davis, Illinois
Mike Bost, Illinois
Randy Weber, Texas
Doug LaMalfa, California
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas
Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania
Troy Balderson, Ohio
Pete Stauber, Minnesota
Tim Burchett, Tennessee
Dusty Johnson, South Dakota
Troy Nehls, Texas
Michelle Steel, California

Water Resources and Environment

Source: Committee website

Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment consists generally of matters relating to water resources development, conservation and management, water pollution control and water infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup.  Within this scope of authority, the Subcommittee has jurisdiction over all programs within the civil works and regulatory programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the water quality and Clean Water Act-related infrastructure programs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) (within the U.S. Department of Transportation).  The Subcommittee also shares jurisdiction with the Committee on Energy and Commerce over EPA’s hazardous waste cleanup and liability authorities (under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), more commonly known as Superfund) and brownfields revitalization program.  In addition, the Subcommittee shares jurisdiction over the joint EPA-U.S. Coast Guard authorities under the Oil Pollution Act with the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.  Finally, the Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the small watershed grants and remediation programs under the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (within the U.S. Department of Agriculture), and water quality and water-infrastructure related programs of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) (within the U.S. Department of State)

Issues under the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee include:

  • Water resources programs (projects and regulations) – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
  • Clean Water Act, water infrastructure and watershed protection programs – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Superfund and brownfields revitalization (EPA)
  • Ocean dumping – Corps and EPA
  • Oil pollution – EPA and U.S. Coast Guard
  • Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (US. Department of Transportation).
  • The small watershed program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
  • Water quality and water-infrastructure related issues on the U.S. Border – International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) (within the U.S. Department of State)
  • Deepwater ports – EPA, Coast Guard, Corps
  • Invasive/aquatic nuisance species – EPA, Coast Guard, Corps, and other agencies
  • Coastal pollution and coastal zone management – EPA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • Natural resource damages – NOAA, Interior, and other agencies
  • Groundwater protection – EPA and Corps
  • Water resources policy – multiple agencies

Majority members:
Grace Napolitano, California, Chair
Jared Huffman, California
Eddie Bernice Johnson, Texas
John Garamendi, California
Alan Lowenthal, California
Tom Malinowski, New Jersey
Antonio Delgado, New York
Chris Pappas, New Hampshire
Carolyn Bourdeaux, Georgia
Frederica Wilson, Florida
Salud Carbajal, California
Greg Stanton, Arizona
Eleanor Holmes Norton, District of Columbia
Steve Cohen, Tennessee

Minority members:
David Rouzer, North Carolina, Ranking Member
Daniel Webster, Florida
John Katko, New York
Brian Babin, Texas
Garret Graves, Louisiana
Mike Bost, Illinois
Randy Weber, Texas
Doug LaMalfa, California
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas
Brian Mast, Florida
Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico
Nancy Mace, South Carolina

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