Peter DeFazio

I just really think, even when we finally get to three functional, modern, major icebreakers, I mean, you still have the Antarctic mission and other things.

I think there is going to be a lot of work coming.

I still don't know why it happened.

Being Chair of the Committee over the past four years has been the highlight of my 36-year career.

As polar ice steadily decreases, new trade routes will emerge, linking Asia, North America, and Europe.

We have to provide resources to the Coast Guard so they can mitigate the effects of climate change in their operational planning.

The Coast Guard does not have the privilege of ignoring the significant and consequential impacts that climate change is having on our environment.

The idiots in the Senate have been unable to approve the Law of the Sea Treaty, so, we don't have full standing to object to Russia continually extending claims further and further into the Arctic region.

So, I guess that kind of raises the issue, which I will be passing on to Garret Graves, who I think will chair this committee in the future, of whether or not we should raise the passenger facility charge so we have a user fee which pays…

Even one mishandled wheelchair is one too many.

It is beyond me that in the year 2022, the air travel experience for passengers with disabilities is not improving at the same pace.

This has always been a bipartisan issue, and we should be able to make more progress.

It has been three decades--I have been here 36 years, and I was in my second term when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, signed by G.H.W. Bush and significantly amended in 2008 and signed by G.W. Bush.

I think we could be able to get to the point where they don't lose or damage any assistive devices. I don't think that is too much to ask.

It is not excusable for this to be happening. These are special items, sometimes irreplaceable or nearly irreplaceable items and certainly in the short term. This has got to change.

I was a rehabilitation counselor. So, I am quite familiar with some of the struggles.

Well, thanks, Chair Larsen, for calling this important hearing on improving the air travel experience for passengers with disabilities.

Stock buybacks are a greedy tool that has assisted in massive inequality and growing poverty.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit this written testimony. In particular, as a citizen of Oregon and member of this community, I want to recognize and thank Chair DeFazio for his longstanding and steadfast commitment to these issues…

Reflecting the 'Oregon Way'--the idea that solutions should benefit the common good--the Chairman has championed improving infrastructure and transportation for communities.

We want to commend Chair DeFazio and the Committee for their leadership in putting climate change, transportation equity, and neighborhood access at the forefront of congressional action.

Invest in Transit Equity, Invest in Transit Workers.

We applaud this Committee for exercising your oversight role by holding the July 19 hearing 'Implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.'

This plan first codified in the CARES Act... stopped growing inequality as aviation was the only industry not to increase inequality between frontline workers and executives during the pandemic.