Peter De Fazio, Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to Retire

Rep. Peter DeFazio last week announced that he will not seek re-election in 2022. Jayati Ramakrishnan reports the new for The Oregonian:

Rep. Peter DeFazio said he will not seek re-election in 2022, leaving open Oregon’s District 4 seat. DeFazio has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years, and is currently the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is closely watched by planners for signs of shifting policy approaches and the priorities established by funding. Rep. DeFazio led efforts to reform the federal approach to transportation funding and planning in the past, but with a mixed record of success. That mixed record was exemplified most recently with the demise of the INVEST in America Act—a bill introduced by DeFazio that was included as an early component of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, The INVEST in America Act would have limited the ability of states to spend federal transportation dollars on the road projects expansion projects, but it was discarded during negotiations.

According to the article DeFazio lists his accomplishments during his record time as an Oregon Congressperson as securing funding for port dredging and improving the landing systems at the Eugene airport. "The Springfield politician, 74, has been recognized as a progressive voice in Congress, boosting water and land conservation in rural Oregon and a range of infrastructure projects," writes Ramakrishnan.