WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) offered his support for H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act of 2019. This comprehensive legislation attempts to prevent or limit human and environmental exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) related chemicals from a variety of pathways, as wel  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Dina Titus (D-NV) will be inviting the General Services Administration (GSA) to testify at a public hearing about the Trump Organization's desire to sell its  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on aviation consumer protection. The report (GAO-20-258) is titled "Few U.S. Aircraft Have Lavatories Designed to Accommodate Passengers with Reduced Mobility". The report was sent to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, chairman, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman, and Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, ranking  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-338) on legislation (H.R. 1620) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Program. The report was advanced by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, on Dec. 12, 2019. Excerpts of the report follow: Purpose of Legislation...1 Background and Need for Legislation...2 Hearings...2 Legislative History and Consideration...3 Committee Votes...3 Committee Oversig  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-340) on legislation (H.R. 4719) to amend the federal share of the fishing safety standards grants. The report was advanced by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, on Dec. 12, 2019. Excerpts of the report follow: Purpose of Legislation...5 Background and Need for Legislation...5 Hearings...6 Legislative History and Consideration...7 Committee Votes...7 Committee Oversight Findings...7 New Budg  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-339) on legislation (H.R. 2548) to modify eligibility requirements for certain hazard mitigation assistance programs. The report was advanced by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, on Dec. 12, 2019. Excerpts of the report follow: Purpose of Legislation...2 Background and Need for Legislation...2 Hearings...2 Legislative History and Consideration...3 Committee Votes...3 Committee Oversight Fin  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Jan. 9 after the House passed a War Powers Resolution to limit military action toward Iran: "Congress has an important role in maintaining our country's security," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "Passing a War Powers Resolution today was a clear stand - backed by the powers the Constitution granted to Congress - against President Trump's reckless decisions that escalated tensions with Iran, endang  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement after Boeing made emails public which shed light on Boeing's internal discussions regarding the design, development and certification of the Boeing 737 MAX as well as problems with the 737 MAX simulators: "These newly-released emails are incredibly damning. They paint a deeply disturbing picture of the lengths Boeing was apparently willing to   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following statement: Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) voted in favor of H.Con.Res. 83, legislation that directs President Trump to end the use of American forces in hostilities against Iran unless he receives authority from Congress. DeFazio also spoke on the House Floor to urge Congress to reassert its constitutional war powers authority. "President Trump took us to the brink of all-out war last week when he recklessly and impulsively  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 9 in response to the Trump administration's decision on the regulations for the National Environmental Policy Act: "When tackling new and critical infrastructure projects across the country, we need to consider the impacts to our environment. Pretending like our climate isn't changing is reckless and costly. "Today's news that Presid  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Jan. 9: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) responded to the Trump Administration's decision to move forward with a rule to enable Federal agencies to no longer consider the environmental effects of infrastructure projects. "When tackling new and critical infrastructure projects across the country, we need to consider the impacts to our environment. Pretend  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on the ongoing situation with Iran: "Since I came to Congress in 2009, I have adamantly opposed military intervention in the Middle East except when absolutely necessary to protect American troops stationed there and to keep terrorists from reaching American shores. I remain staunchly opposed to U.S. involvement in another costly conflict in the Middle East." "Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani was an enemy of our count  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following remarks on Jan. 8 at a Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee hearing to examine ways to protect American consumers from bad actors online: "I want to first thank Chair Schakowsky for organizing today's incredibly insightful hearing - which is focused on deception online. "For many years, the internet has been a force for good. It provides consumer  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following remarks on Jan. 8 at a Health Subcommittee hearing titled, "Legislation to Improve Americans' Health Care Coverage and Outcomes": "At today's hearing, we will have the opportunity to review initiatives intended to advance public health and wellness in children as well as other proposals affecting the Medicare and Medicaid programs. "H.R. 2271, the Scarlet  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 8 regarding the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation Future Act: "It's disappointing that the Democrats have - yet again - opted for politics over progress. "If Democrats were serious about getting something done on climate change, they would seek to make law instead of engaging in partisan messaging exercises. The  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following statement on Jan. 9 after he voted no on the War Powers Resolution: "I came away from yesterday's classified briefing more convinced than ever that the President, as Commander in Chief, was right to protect American troops and diplomats in Iraq-and to prevent terrorist attacks there and elsewhere-by taking out Qassem Soleimani. General Soleimani was directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American military member  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) discussed efforts to improve public health and wellness at an Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing entitled "Legislation to Improve Americans' Health Care Coverage and Outcomes." One of the bills discussed at the hearing was the Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act, H.R. 2271, which would improve current efforts to further understand both su  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Washington, chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation, issued the following statements after Boeing announced it would recommend simulator training for Boeing 737 MAX pilots as Boeing works toward the goal of returning the airplane to service: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over all aspects of civil aviation,  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. Grace F. Napolitano, D-California,chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, issued the following statements on Jan. 9 at a hearing entitled, "Proposals for a Water Resources Development Act of 2020": Chair DeFazio: While we may have disagreed on certain policy matters, during his tenure, I am proud to have worked with Chairman Shuster in return  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, ranking member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, after House passage of several bipartisan Energy and Commerce Committee bills aimed at boosting 5G in America: "These bipartisan bills will help us achieve a national priority for the United States: winning the global race to 5G. This technology h  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, ranking member of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, and Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, ranking member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, after Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao's announcement on self-driving cars: "We are pleased to see Secretary Chao and the Trump  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. John Shimkus, R-Illinois, ranking Republican member of the Subcommittee on Climate Change, issued the following statement on Democrats' actions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances solutions: "Our Democratic colleagues are regrettably beginning the New Year with more of the same from last year: putting politics over progress. "We have broad, bipartisan, and commo  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing U.S. service members as retaliation for the drone strike that killed General Qasem Soleimani: "We are in a precarious moment but war is not inevitable. After Iran's attack last night on Iraqi bases housing U.S. forces, both sides need to find off-ramps to avoid conflict from spiraling further out of control. Iran claims it does not seek escalation or wa  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement regarding what he said was the spiraling national security concerns stemming from President Trump's actions and expressions: "President Trump and Secretary Pompeo are either dangerously inept or colossally ignorant, and have done enormous damage to U.S. security. "In short order they have... "Turned massive demonstrations in Iran against the Iranian government into massive demonstrations against the U.S.; "Turn  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement: Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Trump administration announced proposed changes to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) guidelines, and indicated that federal agencies would not be allowed to consider climate impacts when evaluating the environmental impacts of federal infrastructure projects: "With this directive, President Trump is effectively ordering the U.S. to   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Senators Wyden, Brown and Markey with Reps. Eshoo, Clarke and Lieu Press FCC to Take on SIM Swap Fraud that Endangers Bank Accounts and Personal Information * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and five House and Senate members pressed the Federal Communications Commission to do more to protect consumers from scammers who hijack phone numbers to hack bank accounts and other personal information. Sen  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Senate Finance Committee issued the following statement by Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, at an executive session to consider the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (H.R. 5430): This morning, the Finance Committee kicks off 2020 with the new NAFTA. The last few years have delivered one trade gut punch after another to America's exporters, particularly farmers and manufacturers. In fact, it began when then-presidential candidate Trump talked about pul  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement in reaction to the Internal Revenue Service audit rates: "IRS audit rates are at their lowest levels in 40 years, allowing the wealthy and well-connected to steal from taxpayers with no consequences. "This is by design--Republicans have been on a decade-long crusade to gut IRS enforcement. "The bulk of tax avoidance and fraud comes from corporations, pass-  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the statement on Jan. 9 in reaction to a report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration on 501c4 enforcement: "The watchdog report issued today shows that thousands of nonprofits eligible to engage in political activity have failed to properly disclose their existence, and the IRS isn't doing enough to identify noncompliance or enforce penalties. "The IRS is onc  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - In a bipartisan letter to the FTC, the senators urged the limiting of non-compete agreements that harm American workers * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined a bipartisan group of senators to urge the limiting of non-compete agreements that harm American workers. In a bipartisan letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the senators wrote, "The American workforce has experienced sign  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden joined Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., to support a war powers resolution to force a debate and vote in Congress to prevent further escalation of hostilities with Iran. "At each of my town halls this past weekend, I heard from Oregonians concerned that Donald Trump is racing our country towards war. Today I cosponsored a Senate Resolution to prevent this reckless administration from launching a war  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following statements: * * * - Modernized Trade Agreement Will Open Market Access, Grow Economy, Protect Workers * * * Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statements regarding the broad, bipartisan passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act, which was re  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), joined by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation to provide salaried employees in traditional office environments--a group of approximately 13.5 million executive, administrative, and professional women--with reasonable break time and a private place to pump breastmilk. Their  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), joined by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation to provide salaried employees in traditional office environments--a group of approximately 13.5 million executive, administrative, and professional women--with reasonable break time and a private place to pump breastmilk. The  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - An Authorization Passed Nearly 20 Years Ago to Fight a Different Country is No Justification to Begin a New War * * * Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) announced a bipartisan resolution to underscore that the President does not have Congressional authorization for military action against Iran under current law. Specifically, the resolution clarifies that neither the 2001 Aut  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - An Authorization for Use of Military Force passed nearly two decades ago is no justification to begin new armed conflict * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senator Ron Wyden, today announced a bipartisan resolution to underscore that any future war must be considered and authorized by Congress. Specifically, the resolution clarifies that neither the 2001 Authorization for Use of Milita  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) joined with five other senators to introduce a resolution condemning Donald Trump's threats to attack cultural sites in Iran and demanding he refrain from violating the laws of armed conflict. "If Donald Trump follows through on his threat to bomb Persian cultural sites it would be an abomination on the level of what the Taliban did to Buddhist relics in Afghanis  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined with five other senators to introduce a resolution condemning Donald Trump's threats to attack cultural sites in Iran and demanding he refrain from violating the laws of armed conflict. "If Donald Trump follows through on his threat to bomb Persian cultural sites it would be an abomination on the level of what the Taliban did to Buddhist relics in Afghanistan," Wyden  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Jan. 10: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) voted in support of H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act of 2019, which passed the House with bipartisan support by a vote of 247 to 159. "For too long, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat has been threatened by contamination from PFAS chemicals. Despite acknowledging the concern about the human  more