Rep. Hank Johnson secures ranking membership of Transportation & Infrastructure subcommittee

Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia’s Fourth District, announced Jan. 24 that his appointment on the powerful House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) has resulted in a leadership role.

Johnson was unanimously voted by his colleagues to be the leading Democrat on the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, which conducts oversight of programs addressing federal management of emergencies and natural disasters –including oversight of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – and some aspects of Homeland Security.

The subcommittee also has jurisdiction over agencies and programs promoting economic development in communities suffering economic distress and has jurisdiction over public buildings, federal real estate programs and the Public Buildings Service (PBS) of the General Services Administration (GSA), which is the civilian landlord of the federal government.

“Being a member of T&I and these important subcommittees is going to better position me to advocate for the good people of the Fourth District and Georgia to help bring economic development and transportation infrastructure projects to our state and region,” said Johnson. “Having a seat at the leadership table will allow me to be the voice in Washington for the world’s busiest airport, MARTA and the economic and infrastructure development needs for our great state and the entire Southeast.”

Johnson is now the only Democrat from Georgia on the committee.

Johnson’s other subcommittee assignments include the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, which has responsibility for the development of national surface transportation policy, including policies related to the construction and improvement of highway and transit facilities, of safety and research programs, and regulation of commercial motor vehicle operations. Within this scope of responsibilities, the Subcommittee has jurisdiction over many U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) programs and modal administrations.

As a member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Johnson will help oversee all aspects of civil aviation, including safety, infrastructure, labor, commerce, and international issues.  All programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), except for research activities, are within the purview of the Subcommittee.  The Aviation Subcommittee is also traditionally the lead subcommittee with jurisdiction over the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents and other transportation accidents.