United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
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Committee	United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Congress	118th
Chamber	House
Formed	0 1947
Jurisdiction	Transportation and infrastructure policy, construction, maintenance, and regulation
Chairperson	Sam Graves (R)
Chairperson term	2023–present
Ranking member	Rick Larsen (D)
Ranking member term	2023–present
Seats	67
Majority1 seats	37
Minority1 seats	30
Policy areas	Aviation, highways, transit, railroads, waterways, ports, pipelines, economic development, public buildings, emergency management
Website	https://transportation.house.gov/

Contents

History and jurisdiction
Subcommittees
Members, 118th Congress
Chairmen and ranking members
Legislative activity and major bills
See also

United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives with one of the broadest policy jurisdictions in Congress. It oversees all modes of transportation, public infrastructure projects, federal economic development initiatives, and emergency management. The committee's work directly impacts the nation's Interstate Highway System, Federal Aviation Administration, Amtrak, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

History and jurisdiction

The committee was established in its modern form by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, which consolidated several predecessor panels including the United States House Committee on Rivers and Harbors and the United States House Committee on Roads. Its formal jurisdiction, as defined by House Rules, encompasses all modes of transportation: aviation, maritime and waterborne transportation, highways, bridges, mass transit, railroads, and pipelines. It also holds authority over public buildings and federally managed real estate, most notably through the General Services Administration, as well as disaster relief and preparedness under the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The committee's purview extends to the economic development programs administered by the Economic Development Administration and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Subcommittees

The committee's work is organized through six permanent subcommittees, each with specialized focus areas. The Subcommittee on Aviation handles matters related to the Federal Aviation Administration and airport development. The Subcommittee on Highways and Transit oversees the Federal Highway Administration and federal surface transportation policy. The Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials has jurisdiction over Amtrak, freight rail safety, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment focuses on the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency's infrastructure programs, and the Clean Water Act. The Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management oversees the General Services Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Finally, the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation handles the United States Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration.

Members, 118th Congress

As of the 118th United States Congress, the committee has 67 members, with a majority of 37 Republicans and 30 Democrats. The chairman is Sam Graves of Missouri, who succeeded former Chairman Peter DeFazio of Oregon. The ranking member is Rick Larsen of Washington. Other notable majority members include Garret Graves of Louisiana, who chairs the Subcommittee on Aviation, and David Rouzer of North Carolina. Prominent minority members include former Chair Peter DeFazio, Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia, and Steve Cohen of Tennessee.

Chairmen and ranking members

Historically, the committee has been led by influential figures from both parties. Notable past chairmen include Bud Shuster of Pennsylvania, a key architect of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, and James L. Oberstar of Minnesota, a champion of aviation and transit funding. Other significant chairs were Don Young of Alaska and Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania. Prominent ranking members have included Nick Rahall of West Virginia, John Duncan Jr. of Tennessee, and Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas. The leadership has often been central to negotiating major, multi-year transportation authorization bills.

Legislative activity and major bills

The committee is the primary author of surface transportation reauthorization acts, which fund the nation's highways and transit systems for multi-year periods. Landmark legislation originating from the committee includes the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, and the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. It also drafts aviation reauthorization bills for the Federal Aviation Administration and authorizes water resources projects through the Water Resources Development Act. In recent years, the committee played a pivotal role in crafting the infrastructure components of major laws like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Its oversight extends to investigating issues such as aviation safety at the Boeing company, port congestion, and the federal response to disasters like Hurricane Katrina.