Michaud Secures Transportation Committee Seat

By Rhiannon Varmette

WASHINGTON--Freshman Rep. Michael Michaud won a much sought-after seat
on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Tuesday.

The committee has jurisdiction over highways, railroads, civil aviation, maritime issues, water resources development and conservation and hazardous waste clean up.

“The reauthorization of [highway] funding will be coming up this Congress,” Michaud, a Democrat, said. “It’s really important, since Maine has ranked at the bottom over the last few years and because transportation is key in economic development and growth.”

The Democrats had only seven openings available on Transportation and Infrastructure, said Jim Berard, the committee’s Democratic communications director.

“The field to be on this committee was broad,” Berard said. “The Transportation Committee is one of the most sought after committees…, especially this year with the reauthorization of several major pieces of legislation. Just about every freshman representative wanted to be on this committee.”

The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) – which authorizes the level of federal spending for highway, highway safety and transit programs – will be on the table this session. The committee will make the initial recommendations on how much to spend on transportation for the next five years.

“Now is a key point to make sure Maine gets its fair share of transportation dollars,” Michaud said. “A lot of veterans wanted to be on the committee. I feel very fortunate to have been picked…. it’s something that not all freshmen get to do.”

In the last session of Congress, Democratic Gov. John Baldacci served on the Transportation Committee. Michaud said he looks forward to continuing to push Maine projects like the East-West Highway and the extension of I-95.

“It will be a tough time with the way the economy is, both in Maine and nationally,” he said. “We have to do what we can to invest in the future, but in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, is chairman of the Transportation Committee
and Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., is the ranking Democratic member.

Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat, will take a seat on the Energy and Commerce
Committee, dropping his seats on the Armed Services and Government Reform Committees. Allen’s subcommittee assignments as well as another possible committee assignment will be decided later this week, according to Mark Sullivan, Allen’s spokesman.

Published in The Bangor Daily News, in Maine.