New Infrastructure Law Takes Shape; DeFazio Announces Retirement

What happened: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has launched a website detailing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The agency also asked the regulated community for its suggestions on implementing the new law.

Why it matters: The ‘Bipartisan Infrastructure Law‘ website will be updated with multiple sources of information, including fact sheets, funding notices, regulatory guidance, and other presentations, FHWA says. The agency’s ‘Request for Information‘ seeks comments on highway formula programs continued by the IIJA and other implementation matters.

What’s next: ARTBA is reviewing the information request and will remain engaged with all aspects of the IIJA’s implementation.

DeFazio Announces Retirement, House Transportation Committee Chair to Change

What happened: Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), a 36-year House veteran and current chair of the Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, Dec. 1 announced he will retire at the end of next year.

Why it matters: His decision raises to 19 the number of Democrats leaving the nearly evenly divided House and opens jockeying for the party’s leadership of the T&I Committee, whether in the majority or minority. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) is next in line by seniority. She chairs the Highways & Transit Subcommittee and would be the first woman and first D.C. delegate to chair the committee. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) who chairs the Aviation Subcommittee, also announced his intention Dec. 2 to seek the spot. Committee leaders and assignments in the next Congress won’t be decided until December 2022 and will largely depend on the outcome of the Nov. 8, 2022, election.

More background: DeFazio has served on the T&I Committee since 1987. He has led the committee Democrats since 2015, becoming chair in 2019. While in Congress, he has served as the top Democrat on four subcommittees: Aviation, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Highways and Transit, and Water Resources and Environment. DeFazio has also spoken at multiple ARTBA and Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) events.