Rep. Peter DeFazio was elected chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on Friday, cementing Oregon’s place at the bargaining table if, or when, a national transportation debate re-emerges this year.

Infrastructure week, anyone?

The Springfield Democrat has been the ranking member on the committee since January 2015, but with Democrats regaining control of the House of Representatives, he now slides into a leadership role.

In a statement, DeFazio said he would be a “tireless advocate for the kind of infrastructure investment that results in job creation, increased economic growth, and decreased emissions.”

After the midterm elections in early November, DeFazio said he planned to push for a massive infrastructure and transportation bill. He also saw it as a way to potentially work with the Trump administration, calling the president “a builder” who understands that transportation projects take true investment and “real money.”

“I will fight for common sense, comprehensive solutions to address the major issues facing our aging, 20th century infrastructure and champion a smarter, greener infrastructure that helps to reduce carbon pollution, and is more resilient and better equipped to handle the impacts of climate change,” DeFazio said in a statement. “I will work to build bipartisan agreement around legislation that strengthens the Federal responsibility for maintaining and providing access to transportation for all Americans. I will balance this with our duty to provide reasonable and responsible oversight of the Trump Administration’s implementation of laws under the Committee’s jurisdiction.”

Read more background on DeFazio’s plans for the upcoming Congress and other transportation takeaways from the mid-term elections here.

-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen

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