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Jim Oberstar is a former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Minnesota's 8th congressional district from 1975 to 2011. He was known for his work on transportation and infrastructure issues, playing a key role in the development of the nation's transportation policies. Oberstar served as the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he advocated for improvements in highways, public transit, and aviation. His tenure was marked by a focus on enhancing safety and efficiency in transportation systems across the country.
from the perspective of the Committee on Transportation and the Infrastructure on which I serve, the Democrats on that committee, we find a number of offensive provisions littered throughout this bill that fall within the jurisdiction of…
The inspiration for this initiative in this legislation was a report by the Centers For Disease Control of the U.S. Public Health Service, the Department of Health and Human Services some 4 years ago. I participated in this conference and…
House Concurrent Resolution 423 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for activities associated with the dedication of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. I'm proud to support this resolution and to support the dedication…
I rise in support of H.R. 2523, a bill to designate the United States Courthouse located at 125 Bull Street in Savannah, Georgia as the Tomochichi United States Courthouse. Chief Tomochichi was born to the Creek Indian Tribe in 1650 in the…
the District of Columbia Special Olympics is the premier event in the region that highlights the athletic accomplishments of disabled children and young adults. Thanks to the tenacity of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her family, thousands of…
I must say I am disappointed in the Coast Guard and in the administration, whoever it is. It is uncertain. The Coast Guard has been shifted from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Homeland Security. We hardly know who is…
Mr. Speaker, once again time has run out on our effort to reauthorize the core mobility program of America, our Federal highway public transit and transportation safety programs. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century expired 7…
I rise in support of S. 1904, a bill to designate the United States Courthouse located at 400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL, as the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Courthouse. Judge Wilkie Ferguson, a native Floridian, was born of…
Mr. Speaker, this is an embarrassing time for members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure because a bill that is supposed to improve traffic is now stuck in traffic. In Ohio, where I am from, we always joke about the fact…
I will say it again: The claim is TEA LU has $207 billion for the highway program. The Isakson amendment has $207 billion of grants and claims that every State gets more money. Well, that is pretty slick math. I just heard a reference to…
Mr. Chairman, let me rise to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their leadership and also the subcommittee chair and ranking member. I am talking about the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr…
It simply comes down to this: heavier trucks are more dangerous. They are more costly to the Nation's highways. As truck weights increase, fatal accident rates go up, according to the University of Michigan's transportation research study…
This amendment is about opening the door to allow bigger and bigger trucks on our interstate highway system. And although this amendment is drafted in a form that appears to apply only to the State of New Hampshire, its impact will reach…
Mr. Chairman, Congress, some years ago, granted New Hampshire limited exemptions from the Federal truck size and weight limits. We required that the State complete the study of the impacts upon the State's infrastructure, and even…
I do not think it is right to put drivers on the road with so little rest, so much fatigue and so great potential for fatalities. Now, the industry argues, well, we have not had any fatalities. But I have been involved in this fatigue…
I rise not only in opposition to this amendment, but to the many assaults upon the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's hours of service rule announced just recently. But this one in particular, the FMCSA revised the hours of…
I too support the spirit of the gentleman's amendment, but not the language and not the approach and certainly not the additional cost without offsets. I do want to point out that under FAA's Airport Improvement Program and with the use of…
In the 1980s, as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, I held extensive hearings on the status of manufacturing in light rail, passenger vehicles and buses during which we demonstrated the loss of tens of thousands…
Section 410 of existing law gives States eligibility to receive funds for alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures. It is a good program, a good provision. New Jersey is the first and only State to enact a law to impound a vehicle operated…
this language is not well-drafted, I must say to the gentleman. He has a very good purpose but very unclear and unsure language; and as I read the language approved under unanimous consent, it makes the authority even broader. It says…
Mr. Chairman, again, this is like, as so often we will see on these amendments on the floor, an amendment that is well intentioned but has adverse consequences. I support the environmental benefits that can be achieved with clean air…
If I allow another person to use my car and that person has an accident, I am liable. Why should rental car companies be different? If States choose to make them liable under these circumstances, as our State of Minnesota does, then why…
Mr. Chairman, very simply stated, this amendment would bypass the determination of the Secretary to make decisions on corridors and substitute judgment in this body for that of the Secretary looking at a national picture, and that is the…
The purpose of the HOV lanes is to encourage more people to ride in a car than to continue encouraging single-occupancy vehicle travel. Now, the idea of an exemption for hybrid vehicles was to encourage their development, their production…
exactly. The question is, How will the funds be allocated? And I think we need to just understand that better and have it spelled out more clearly so that we understand what is happening and we do not run into something we did not…
Politicians like James Oberstar
