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Oberstar to chair House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Good news for trails advocates— Oberstar has been a supporter of the Recreational Trails Program and a sponsor of the TEA bills which have included funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs as well as trails.

The Democratic Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives has chosen Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.) to chair the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the 110th Congress.

"I am pleased and humbled by this vote of confidence," Oberstar said. "I look forward to the many challenges ahead for this Committee and am ready to work with Members on both sides of the aisle, and the Administration, to move our agenda forward for the good of all the American people."

Widely regarded as one of the top experts on transportation in either House of Congress, Oberstar began his Congressional career in 1963 as an aide to his predecessor from Minnesota, Rep. John A. Blatnik. Blatnik was a Member of what was then called the Committee on Public Works. Blatnik ascended to the chairmanship of the Committee in 1971, and named Oberstar to head the Committee staff. Blatnik retired in 1974, and Oberstar sought and won his Congressional seat. Oberstar also sought a seat on the Committee— renamed Public Works and Transportation Committee— and has held that seat ever since.

Oberstar chaired the Subcommittees on Economic Development, Investigations and Oversight, and Aviation in the 1980s and 1990s. After the Republicans won the House majority in 1994, Oberstar became the Ranking Democratic Member of the Aviation Subcommittee. He rose to the post of Ranking Democratic Member on what is now called the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure when Rep. Norman Y. Mineta of California retired from Congress in the fall of 1995.

The Caucus vote came late Thursday afternoon after the Democratic Steering Committee finished its nominations for the remaining Committee chairmanships. Oberstar will officially take the gavel when the 110th Congress convenes in early January.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Democratic Caucus U.S. House of Representatives, 2163 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515 www.house.gov/transportation_democrats

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