PA Representative Bill Shuster To Take Over As Committee Chair

Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA) has been selected by the House Republican Conference to be the next Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Shuster (pictured) made the following statement after the announcement of his selection:

“It is a great honor to be selected by my colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and I thank them for the confidence they have placed in me.”
 
“Transportation issues are among the most critical that we face in Congress and as a nation. Our transportation infrastructure is the backbone that supports economic growth and global competitiveness. Working together in the 113th Congress, the Committee will focus on strengthening America’s transportation networks to make us more efficient, more competitive, and more prosperous.”
 
“I look forward to continuing to work to reform programs, focus our resources where they are needed most, restore regulatory balance, and better manage our federal assets.”
 
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) said, “Bill Shuster is an experienced and well respected member of our Conference and as the incoming Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee his leadership will be critical to our important work next Congress.”
 
Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) added, "In Bill Shuster, House Republicans have selected a strong conservative leader with a record of reform and a proven commitment to strengthening our nation's infrastructure."
 
Shuster has served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since coming to Congress in 2001.  He has previously served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials and as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. Shuster will be “Chairman-elect” until the start of the 113th Congress in January.

According to House Republican Conference rules, members may serve as chair for six years before being term-limited out of office. Congressman John Mica (R-FL) has served for the past six years as chair of the committee, and this week dropped his request to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) for a waiver of the term limit and endorsed Shuster.

Shuster has not yet named subcommittee chairs, so it is not known how many of those will change, if any. Currently, Representative Tom Petri (R-WI) chairs the Aviation Subcommittee.

FMI: http://transportation.house.gov, http://shuster.house.gov