Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
DC Streetsblog

Could a Coal-n-Highways Dem Take Oberstar’s Place on Transpo Committee?

Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) is reportedly angling for the top Democratic seat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the House. Had Jim Oberstar survived the election, he would have given up the chair and become the ranking member.

Nick Rahall (left) is throwing his hat in the ring for top Dem on T & I. Image: ##http://www.rahall.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=36##Nick Rahall#
false

Rahall is next in line for the seat, and, as The Hill is reporting, he’s ready to leave the top spot on the Natural Resources Committee to focus on T & I.

That could be good news for the Natural Resources Committee – Rahall represents coal country, and his support for coal has stifled attempts to regulate it or shift to cleaner energy sources. Just last month, he likened regulation of the coal industry to a terrorist threat.

Next in line to be top Dem on that committee is 81-year-old Dale Kildee (MI). But the Hill notes that the person most interested in the job could be Ed Markey of Massachusetts, who’s taken a lead role in crafting climate legislation.

But back to T & I. Rahall hasn’t made his bid official yet, though his spokesperson says he will soon. What kind of ranking member would he be? Hard to say, but check out his website’s issue page on Transportation. It’s got three bullet points: highways, water, and broadband. Mass transit? Pedestrian safety? Bike infrastructure? Not big issues in southern West Virginia.

Right after Rahall in the T & I ranking is Peter DeFazio (D-OR), who’s been a livability champion, a member of the Congressional Bike Caucus, and a transit supporter.

Democratic leadership makes the call on committee assignments. It’s not clear whether that will happen during the lame duck next week or when the session begins in January.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Metro Names Bill Scott as Chief of Police

Chief Scott and Metro leadership emphasized that keeping Metro transit safe would require a multi-faceted approach that included the deployment of officers as well as collaboration with the community, ambassadors, and service providers. "Sometimes enforcement is the answer," Scott said. "Sometimes it's not."

May 7, 2025

Lyft’s Anti-Worker Anti-Transit Record Raises Red Flags For Metro Bike Share

Edwin Aviles and Kalayaan Mendoza urge Metro not to reward bad actors working to undermine workers’ rights and mass transit

South El Monte Launches Electric Car-Share Program

Use the SGV Carshare app to rent electric cars, starting at $40 a day

May 6, 2025
See all posts