Former Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio to Collaborate with Lobbying Firm Summit Strategies

24 Jan Former Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio to Collaborate with Lobbying Firm Summit Strategies

Former Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio
to Collaborate with Lobbying Firm
Summit Strategies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2023
press@summitstrategies.us

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Summit Strategies Government Affairs announced a strategic collaboration with Peter DeFazio, the former Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. DeFazio recently launched an independent consulting practice and will also serve as a Senior Strategic Advisor to Summit Strategies. DeFazio retired after 36 years in Congress and is one of the nation’s foremost transportation and infrastructure policy experts.

DeFazio will focus his work on a wide variety of transportation issues, including highways and transit, aviation, water resources, and programs created and continued by the transformational Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which was passed and signed into law under his leadership in the House. In addition to IIJA, while he was chair DeFazio led the passage of more than 100 bills through the House and more than 30 bills that were signed into law, including the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020, and the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act.

“After representing small and large communities in Oregon and collaborating with businesses, labor, and public entities for 36 years, I am acutely aware of the unique and serious transportation and infrastructure challenges stakeholders face across the federal landscape. As I begin this next chapter in my career, I am eager to use the skills and knowledge I have gained in new ways. Teaming with Summit Strategies will allow me to continue to work with some of the best in the business and I look forward to tackling some of our country’s most critical infrastructure needs both in my consulting work and with the firm,” said DeFazio.

Summit Strategies is known for its work representing clients in the infrastructure space, including state DOTs, large and mid-sized transit agencies, international and regional airports, local governments, ports, and transportation businesses. DeFazio will help advise Summit Strategies and its five founding partners, Jim Beall, Jim Kolb, Mark Dedrick, Michelle Giguere, and Hal Hiemstra, as well as with senior policy staff.

“Peter DeFazio has been a leader on transportation issues his whole career and is recognized as one of the most effective legislators ever to chair the House T&I Committee. From the upcoming FAA Reauthorization to implementation of the IIJA, Peter’s skill, experience, and encyclopedic knowledge of transportation policy will be critical as stakeholders and clients navigate these complex issues over the next few years,” said the founding partners in a joint statement.

In addition to his work on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, DeFazio served on the Natural Resources Committee from 1987 to 2015, and as its Ranking Member from 2013 to 2014. During his career, DeFazio passed and signed into law protections for over 30,000 acres of old growth forest, 250 miles of wild and scenic rivers, and over 100,000 acres of critical steelhead and salmon habitat.

DeFazio plans to work both from his home state of Oregon and the Summit Strategies Capitol Hill offices. He does not currently plan on registering as a lobbyist.

DeFazio’s full bio can be found here.