In November, 2021 Congress approved the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.
In December, 2021 Peter DeFazio--the Chair of the Committee that authored the bill, and the man who shepherded it through the Congress--announced his retirement at the end of this term.
Last week the Oregon Duck Alumni Association held a Salute to Peter DeFazio reception at the Library of Congress. Jack Mullen was there.
I worked alongside Peter DeFazio for four years in the late 1970s. We were both aides to U.S. Representative Jim Weaver. For some of that time Jack Mullen, a graduate of Medford High School and then the University of Oregon, was part of that Weaver team of young aides. While DeFazio was working with Weaver he earned a Masters Degree from the University of Oregon.
When Weaver left the House to try a run for the Senate, DeFazio won election to succeed him. DeFazio has a long and stellar career. He moved up in influence and expertise. He is chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the House of Representatives. He is the longest serving House member from Oregon and the 65th-longest serving member of the House in U.S. history.
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| 1988: A young DeFazio, newly elected to Congress |
Fifteen Republicans in the House voted for the bill. Six Democrats--the Squad--voted against it. Now that it is law, everyone--including people who voted against it--praises the good it will do for their constituents.
Jack Mullen now lives in D.C. and as a University of Oregon alum he got word of their reception to honor DeFazio's service.
Guest Post by Jack Mullen
Nothing qualifies more as an authentic Oregonian than toiling in Rogue River Valley orchards, thinning pears, with Peter Sage. Or feeling the pulse of Oregon’s 4th Congressional District with Peter as young aides to our local Congressman, back when Medford was still part of Oregon’s 4th District.
Peter keeps me informed on Oregon happenings that might escape my eye, and I endeavor to do the same for him about life in our nation’s capital.
Last Wednesday, as D.C. Ducks, fellow ex-Medford-resident Frank Albert and I made the trek to Capitol Hill to attend a reception for current University of Oregon President Michael Schill. This year’s reception was billed as a “Salute to retiring Congressman Peter DeFazio”.
I did not expect such huge nostalgic pull back to my days in Oregon, mixed with an inside view of Washington.
Previous D.C. Ducks Capitol Hill events might be held inside the Capitol, or in Capitol office buildings across the street. Those days are long gone. Largely under-reported were the mass resignations of Capitol Police that occurred after January 6. The force stands at 1/3 its pre-January 6 size. Our Capitol remains a fortress and receptions, formerly held in Capitol rooms, occur now in places, such as ours for the D.C. Ducks, in the Library of Congress’ Montpelier Room. If you want to visit your local representative, these days a staff member must come all the way down and escort you to your destination.
Lots of laughs and insights about DeFazio’s 36 years came to light last Wednesday and two incidents stood out to me.
Peter DeFazio, as Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, put together a strong Infrastructure Bill that his House Committee unanimously passed. As he and leaders of the House met with President Trump, Nancy Pelosi told Trump that the bill they passed was for 1.4 trillion dollars, but she’d be willing to concede to 1.2 trillion. Trump responded: “How about 1.6 trillion!”
Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, on the West Coast at the time, learned about the agreement and next day told Trump “We can’t let the Democrats get credit for this”. Many believe had Trump hung on to the Infrastructure Bill, he might have won in 2020.
These days our representatives love to invite public input at town hall meetings. On one particular town hall meeting in Sutherlin, a local resident stood up and told Congressman DeFazio he was against that tunnel that connects Alaska with Russia. Without missing a beat, the Congressman replied, “I’m Chairman of the House Infrastructure Committee and I will make damn sure that not one more cent is spent on that tunnel.”
Gotta love the great state of Oregon.
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7 comments:
Peter DeFazio’s retirement brings to mind Art Robinson, one of his Republican opponents. He gained national notoriety by espousing such things as spreading nuclear waste in the oceans and abolishing public schools. In 2013, after he lost the election, Republicans made him the head of the Oregon Republican Party. Yet the party can’t understand why, like Rodney Dangerfield, it don’t get no respect.
And now, Robinson is an Oregon State Senator. The nuclear waste story is just one of his more sane ideas. His research into using urine as medicine is mind boggling at, best. And Repugs still can't figure out why they get no respect.
Wasn’t that tunnel from Alaska to Russia in the infrastructure bill? :-)
Oregon will not be better off with Peter DeFazio's retirement, his work has been a boon for yhe Trucking Industry and infrastructure nationwide. Hopefully, the voters in his reshaped District have the g ood sense to elect somebody who is capable of filling his shoes.
O/T. Hey, Moon, you're looking good. Life in and around the Beltway must agree with you.
What happened to his car?
A mutual friend told me a few days ago he still has it.
You should have explained why 'Six Democrats--the Squad--voted against it.' Climate mitigation - reducing the amount of CO2 we put into the atmosphere every day - was entirely stripped from the 'bipartisan' infrastructure bill in order to get Republican votes.
Remember that late this summer when we are all hold up in homes running air filters and waiting for the smoke to clear.
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