WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced he will run for Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the 118th Congress. Larsen, a senior member of the Committee and Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, made the announcement in a letter to colleagues after Chair Peter DeFazio (OR-04) announced his retirement at the end of his term.

Text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Colleague:

I have decided to seek the top Democratic leadership spot on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I bring two decades of service in working with my Committee colleagues, passing legislation in both the majority and minority, and responding to members’ needs.

Committee Service

Serving on this Committee was my day one priority as a Member of Congress. As a former local elected official, I saw firsthand the importance of robust infrastructure to the quality of life of my constituents. That commitment and my interest in improving infrastructure has never wavered. I will bring this same commitment and focus to your district’s needs as Chair of the Committee.

Getting Things Done

I get things done. I helped author and pass parts of key legislation: the 2002 Pipeline Safety Act; multiple WRDA bills; the 2005 transportation bill; multiple Coast Guard bills; and the 2018 FAA bill. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act reflects my legislation to boost the use of low/no emission transit and ferries and promote a more diverse transportation workforce.

Recently, I worked with Chair DeFazio to craft the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Act as part of the American Rescue Plan, protecting thousands of U.S. jobs in the aviation supply chain. Last year, I helped lead the Committee’s response to two Boeing 737 MAX crashes, writing a bipartisan overhaul of aircraft certification that improves the safety of the flying public.

Serving Members

I am ready to help members as Committee leaders have helped me. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation, I have been responsive to members’ requests for oversight on issues such as noise around local airports and addressing emerging issues such as new entrants in U.S. airspace. I will measure my success as a leader by the success of every Democratic member on this Committee.

Moving forward, the Committee must continue to build on Chair DeFazio's work that recognizes the transportation sector is a major contributor to climate change. The Committee must invest in a cleaner and greener transportation system. And we must continue to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for the women and men that make our country go.  

Democrats still have work to do. Over the next year, I will continue to help Chair DeFazio achieve his goals for the Committee and support the fight to keep the majority in 2023 while seeking your support to lead Committee Democrats in the 118th Congress.

Sincerely,

Rick Larsen

U.S. Representative

Washington State, Second District

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