Peter DeFazio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter DeFazio
Chair of the House Transportation Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Bill Shuster
Succeeded by	Sam Graves
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 4th district
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Jim Weaver
Succeeded by	Val Hoyle
Personal details
Born	Peter Anthony DeFazio (1947-05-27) May 27, 1947 (age 78) Needham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Myrnie Daut
Education	Tufts University (BA) University of Oregon (MA)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1967–1971
Unit	Air Force Reserve Command

Peter Anthony DeFazio (born May 27, 1947) is an American politician. He served as a U.S. representative for Oregon's 4th district. This means he represented a part of Oregon in the U.S. government. He was in this role from 1987 to 2023.

DeFazio is a member of the Democratic Party. He also helped start the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This is a group of lawmakers who support progressive ideas. He was born in Massachusetts and served in the United States Air Force Reserve. Before becoming a U.S. representative, he was a county commissioner in Lane County, Oregon. In 2021, DeFazio announced he would retire and not run for reelection.

Early Life and Education

Peter DeFazio was born in 1947 in Needham, Massachusetts. This town is a suburb of Boston. He has said that his great-uncle helped shape his political views.

DeFazio served in the United States Air Force Reserve. He was in the Air Force from 1967 to 1971. After his military service, he went to college. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University in 1969. Later, in 1977, he received a Master of Arts degree in gerontology from the University of Oregon. Gerontology is the study of aging.

Before joining Congress, DeFazio worked for U.S. Representative Jim Weaver. He was an aide from 1977 to 1982. In 1983, he was elected as a commissioner for Lane County, Oregon. He even served as the chairman of the county commission from 1985 to 1986.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Getting Elected to Congress

Peter DeFazio during the
105th Congress (1997–1999)

In 1986, Peter DeFazio decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He wanted to represent Oregon's 4th congressional district. The previous representative, Jim Weaver, was retiring. DeFazio won a close primary election. He then won the main election with 54% of the votes.

After his first win, DeFazio usually won his elections easily. He often received more than 61% of the votes. His strong support came from Lane County, where many people lived. Even though the district was not always strongly Democratic, he held his seat for many years.

In 2010, DeFazio faced a tougher election. A group called The Concerned Taxpayers of America spent a lot of money on ads against him. These ads were paid for by a concrete company and a hedge fund executive. Despite this, DeFazio won with 54.5% of the vote. This was his closest election since his first win.

In 2020, DeFazio ran against Alek Skarlatos. Skarlatos was a former soldier known for stopping a terrorist attack on a train. DeFazio won this election by 5.3 percentage points. This was his narrowest victory since he first took office.

What Peter DeFazio Did in Congress

Peter DeFazio speaks at Oregon State University in 2014

Peter DeFazio is known for his progressive views. In 1992, he helped create the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This group includes lawmakers who support policies like universal healthcare and environmental protection. He was the chairman of this group from 2003 to 2005.

In 1999, DeFazio joined protesters in Seattle. They were protesting the World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings. He disagreed with some of the WTO's new global economic policies.

Working on Infrastructure

DeFazio spent his entire career on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This committee deals with roads, bridges, airports, and other public works. He became the chairman of this committee in 2018.

As chairman, he worked on many important projects. In 2020, he proposed a bill called the Moving Forward Act. This bill aimed to invest $1.5 trillion in various projects. These included highways, railways, airports, and water systems. It also covered broadband internet and other important infrastructure.

DeFazio supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This law invested a lot of money in America's infrastructure. He joined President Biden to promote the new law.

Investigating Boeing 737 MAX Crashes

As chairman of the Transportation Committee, DeFazio led a big investigation. He looked into why two Boeing 737 MAX planes crashed. These crashes caused 346 deaths. His investigation found serious problems with the plane's design and how it was approved.

His committee wrote a 238-page report. It showed many mistakes made by Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Because of his work, new laws were passed to improve aircraft safety. These laws were signed by President Donald Trump in 2020.

In 2022, a Netflix documentary called Downfall: The Case Against Boeing was released. It showed DeFazio's investigation.

Views on Immigration

In 2011, DeFazio asked the U.S. Department of Labor to make rules stronger. He wanted to limit foreign guest workers in forestry jobs. He believed these jobs should go to unemployed U.S. citizens.

DeFazio spoke out against President Donald Trump's executive order in 2017. This order temporarily stopped refugees and immigrants from certain countries from entering the U.S.

In 2018, he invited a "Dreamer" to the State of the Union Address. A "Dreamer" is a young immigrant who came to the U.S. as a child. He also demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allow immigrants held in a prison in Oregon to make free phone calls to get legal help.

Views on Military Spending

DeFazio often voted against increasing U.S. military power. In 2000, he voted against creating a national missile defense system. He called it a "comic book fantasy."

He consistently voted against the Patriot Act. This law was passed after 9/11. He believed it limited Americans' civil rights. He also voted many times to set a plan for bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq.

Supporting the Postal Service

DeFazio worked to reform the United States Postal Service. In 2013, he introduced a bill to help the Postal Service. It included a plan to stop requiring the Postal Service to save billions of dollars each year for future retiree health benefits.

In 2019, he introduced the USPS Fairness Act. This bill would only remove the prefunding requirement. It passed the House of Representatives in 2020. His idea to remove this requirement was included in the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022. President Biden signed this into law in 2022.

Views on Israel and Palestine

In 2015, DeFazio signed a letter about Palestinian children. The letter asked the Secretary of State to focus on the human rights of Palestinian children. It described Israel's treatment of these children as "cruel, inhumane and degrading." In 2017, he helped introduce a bill. This bill would make sure U.S. money did not support military actions against Palestinian children.

Financial Policies

In 2008, DeFazio suggested a small tax on financial trades. This would include stocks and other financial tools. He also introduced the "No BAILOUT Act."

He voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This was a big economic recovery bill. He was one of only seven Democrats in the House to vote against it. He said he couldn't support borrowing money for tax cuts. He wanted more funding for education and infrastructure instead.

DeFazio also suggested that President Obama should fire his Treasury Secretary and National Economic Council Director. He believed this would help Americans.

Occupy Wall Street Movement

In 2011, DeFazio supported the ideas of the Occupy Wall Street protesters. He suggested taxing the trading of stocks and other financial items. This was one of the demands of the protesters.

Fuel Prices

DeFazio opposed a 2014 bill about oil and gas production. He argued that the bill would not solve high gas prices. He blamed "Big Oil" companies and speculation on Wall Street for the high prices. He called the bill the "drill everywhere" bill.

In 2022, he introduced a bill called the Stop Gas Price Gouging Tax and Rebate Act. This bill would tax the huge profits of oil and gas companies. The money would then be given back to Americans in monthly payments.

Health Insurance Reform

In 2020, DeFazio introduced a bill to change a law. This law allowed insurance companies to be free from certain antitrust rules. His bill, the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act, would let the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission apply antitrust laws to health insurance companies. This bill became law in 2021.

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund

In 2020, DeFazio helped pass the Water Resources Development Act. This law included a measure he had worked on for decades. It allowed Congress to use money from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for port and harbor maintenance. This released billions of dollars to improve federal ports.

Organic Farming Standards

DeFazio helped establish the National Organic Program in the 1990s. This program sets standards for organic farming. He also co-chairs the House Organic Caucus. This is a group of lawmakers who support organic farming.

In 2022, he received the Organic Champion Award. This award recognized his long work to support organic food labeling.

Committee and Caucus Memberships

Peter DeFazio was the Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

He was also a member of many other groups, called caucuses, in Congress. These groups focus on specific topics:

• Animal Protection Caucus
• Bike Caucus
• Coast Guard Caucus
• Community Health Care Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional Biomass Caucus
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Healthy Forest Caucus
• House Small Brewer's Caucus (Founder and Co-Chair)
• Human Rights Caucus
• Indian Caucus
• Northwest Energy Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Organic Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Populist Caucus
• Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
• Rural Caucus
• Sportsmen's Caucus
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
• Veterinary Medicine Caucus
• Waterways Caucus
• Medicare for All Caucus

Considering the U.S. Senate

Peter DeFazio during the
109th Congress

Peter DeFazio considered running for the United States Senate several times.

In 1995, he ran for a Senate seat after Senator Bob Packwood resigned. However, he lost the Democratic nomination to Congressman Ron Wyden.

In 1996, he thought about running for another Senate seat. But he decided not to, because he would have faced very wealthy opponents.

He also considered running for Senate in 2008. He was seen as a strong candidate. But he decided against it, citing his seniority in the House and the cost of a Senate campaign.

Personal Life

Peter DeFazio is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. He lives in Springfield with his wife, Myrnie L. Daut.

Images for kids

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  Peter DeFazio's signature

See Also

• DeFazio financial transaction tax