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DeFazio Unveils House Democrats’ Version Of Surface Transportation Bill

Chris Lehman
/
KLCC

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield, who chairs the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the U.S. House, rolled out his version of a massive infrastructure spending package Friday.

The five-year, $547 billion plan includes money for highways and transit, as well as pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. It would also triple the amount of federal funding for Amtrak.

 

DeFazio said his job is to figure out where the money is spent, not to come up with a revenue source. 

“I don’t get to write that part of the bill," he said. "That’s not my committee. That’s (the) Ways and Means Committee. I just write the policy and create the programs.” 

Republicans on the committee released a statement criticizing the plan.

“Instead of working with Republicans to find common ground on a bill that could earn strong bipartisan support – something our Senate counterparts did successfully last month – this bill moves even further to the left to appease the most progressive members in the Majority’s party," the statement read in part.

 

Chris Lehman has been reporting on Oregon issues since 2006. He joined the KLCC news department in December 2018 and became News Director in March 2023. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. His public broadcasting career includes stops in Louisiana and Illinois. Chris has filed for national programs including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”
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