Shuster names T&I Committee vice chair, subcommittee chairs

U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) yesterday announced his selections for the committee's vice chairman and six subcommittee chairmen for the 115th Congress.

U.S. Rep. John Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.) has been named the committee's vice chairman, a role he held in the 114th Congress. U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), will return to his role as chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.

Others who Shuster selected to return to their subcommittee chair roles are: U.S. Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Highways and Transit; Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; Lou Barletta (R-Penn.), Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management; and Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), Aviation.

Also, Shuster chose U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) to chair the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Last Congress, the committee advanced policies aimed at strengthening the nation's  infrastructure and preserve the nation’s competitiveness, Shuster said in a press release.

"The 115th Congress will present new opportunities for the committee to advance a bold agenda focused on building an American infrastructure that is prepared for the challenges of the 21st century," Shuster said. "I am confident that our committee is up to the task with the return of our full committee vice chairman and our accomplished and capable slate of subcommittee chairmen."

The vice chairman and subcommittee chairmen are expected to be confirmed at the committee's first organizational meeting of the year, which has yet to be announced.