Document 7r3BVNxL0xM1QevKQrjowY1j

Congrm of tbe liniteb .s.)tate5 Vacibington, 73C 20515 January 29, 2025 The Honorable Sean Duffy Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary Duffy: Congratulations on your confirmation as Secretary of Transportation. We look forward to working with you and the incoming team at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The President's rapid-fire Executive Orders (EO) issued last week affecting infrastructure spending rules and air traffic controller staffing, doubled down on with this week's guidance from the Office of Management and Budget pausing all federal financial assistance, are putting billions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of jobs, and tens of thousands of projects at risk. These actions are sowing chaos in an industry that counts on long-term certainty and will raise project costs. You have personally heard the bipartisan consternation this is causing Members and Senators, speaking on behalf of our constituents. Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee stand ready to be strong partners in investing in infrastructure and creating jobs building, maintaining and operating the nation's roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, aviation system, maritime transportation system and waterways. We understand deeply how the work of this Committee affects the economy, supply chains, jobs, safety, mobility, opportunity and quality of life for the women and men we represent. We have witnessed what happens when Congress does the right thing and funds our infrastructure--funds flow to projects and support local economies in every single Congressional district in the country. We want to keep it going by working across the aisle in the 119th Congress and continuing to solve transportation challenges, relieve chokepoints, and deliver results for America's communities. Congress has done its part and handed this Administration an unprecedented level of federal funds to build projects. Because of the long tail of infrastructure construction, your Administration will enjoy the ribbon cuttings and community praise from the $660 billion that Congress made available in 2021 to U.S. DOT through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Unfortunately, the actions in the first weeks of this Administration show a fundamental miscalculation of the bipartisan support infrastructure investment enjoys in Congress and how much governors, mayors, county commissioners, city councilmembers, and state legislators across the country count on federal infrastructure dollars. Federal dollars support more than 50 percent of the average State DOT's spending, with some states relying on federal funds for more than 80 percent. We urge you to stem the chaotic effect of these actions on states, cities, counties, Indian Tribes, transit agencies, airports, ports, and railroads by communicating what U.S. DOT is doing. This includes, at a minimum: provide clear guidance on DOT's planned actions to implement the President's objectives with respect to infrastructure spending and eligibilities; make publicly available, on DOT's website, an up-to-date list of all grants subject to or under review pursuant to these EOs; communicate to Congress in advance of changes to grant solicitations or grant requirements, including reissuance of Notices of Funding Opportunity; and 0ST-S10-250129-032 OST-2025-1105 Page 00137 Sierra Club v. Dept. of Transp. - 3:25-cv-06221 SC_EVERSPLIT0008460 Page 2 provide clarity to project sponsors on the ongoing obligation to comply with the longstanding and routinely reauthorized DOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, which remains the law. Project sponsors, particularly those who have already been awarded grants, deserve to know which grants and policies you intend to target, eliminate, or change; the timeline for grant award reviews; and your desired changes to rules and requirements. Ultimately, Congress has a strong say in whether the new rules and requirements the President prefers, and the process by which the Administration tries to impose them, withstand scrutiny and can proceed. Expect a full review of U.S DOT's actions and proposals by this Committee as this process unfolds. We look forward to a productive relationship to keep our transportation systems safe, moving, resilient and ready for the future, all while supporting American workers, businesses and industries. Sincerely, Rick Larsen Ranking Member Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure tee.of,67/?- 4, Eleanor Holmes Norton Member of Congress mi ia Strong Sykes Member of Congress rrold Nadler Member of Congress Steve Cohen Member of Congress ohn Garamendi Member of Congress Henry C. "Han Johnson, Member of Congress Andr- on Member of Congress 0ST-S10-250129-032 OST-2025-1105 Page 00138 Sierra Club v. Dept. of Transp. - 3:25-cv-06221 SC_EVERSPLIT0008461 Page 3 Dina Titus Member of Congress n5141 Julia Brownley -1-V* Member of Congress Alie4 9. Mark DeSaulnier .e-- Member of Congress Itel Greg Stanton Member of Congress .0,4.c.......) 7GJ slis G. "Chuy" Garcia Member of Congress Member of Congress .i.JW)tivue-ct, Caddo% Frederica S. Wilson Member of Congress Salud Carbajal Member of Congress Member of Congress C6 , 4 4 44 Chris Pappas Member of Congress Seth Moulton Member of Congress . --- Patrick Ryan ----- Member of Congress OST-S10-250129-032 Marilyn Strickland Member of Congress Val Hoyle Member of Congress OST-2025-1105 Page 00139 Sierra Club v. Dept. of Transp. - 3:25-cv-06221 SC_EVERSPLIT0008462 lary . Scholten Member of Congress Chris Deluzio Member of Congress N ie Pou Mei of Congress deaog% ..7-zetzu..., Laura Friedman Member of Congress Shomari 14 Figures 411P- Member of Congress Page 4 Valerie P. Foushee Member of Congress Robert Garcia Member of Congress ylttails4n Zeiti.1,7O,A sten McDonald Rivet Member of Congress Member of Congress OST-S10-250129-032 OST-2025-1105 Page 00140 Sierra Club v. Dept. of Transp. - 3:25-cv-06221 SC_EVERSPLIT0008463