Capitol View: December 27, 2012 Archive

Nolan gets spot on transportation committee

Posted at 11:37 AM on December 27, 2012 by Catharine Richert (0 Comments)
Filed under: U.S. House

Eighth Congressional District Rep.-elect Rick Nolan has snagged a spot on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

It's a plum spot for Nolan, whose district once benefited from former Rep. Jim Oberstar's perch as committee chair.

Republicans control the House, so Nolan, a Democrat, will be in the minority on the committee.

But Nolan said it's a major committee assignment because it is "vital to generating good jobs and economic development here in the Eighth Congressional District."

"Building a strong surface and water transportation system creates good paying jobs, improves the quality of our lives, and is the economic backbone of a large district like the Eighth," he said in a press release. "Timber, taconite, tourism and manufacturing spread over a large geographic area all require strong transportation to be successful."

Nolan said the spot will help the district secure federal support for the Northern Lights Express rail project, get money for regional airports, and expand traffic in the Port of Duluth, among other things.