Shuster named to third term as transport committee chair

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) has been chosen by his Congressional colleagues to serve another term as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it was announced today.

Shuster was first chosen for the post in 2012. Under rules established by the Republican Party in 1994, a House committee chair is term-limited to six years in the post.

Shuster has sat on the committee since 2001. His father, former Congressman Bud Shuster, chaired the committee from 1995 to 2001.

Shuster's committee is deeply involved in infrastructure issues, though it does not have control over funding. President-elect Donald J. Trump has said he will push to spend at least $500 billion, and possibly as much as $1 trillion, on infrastructure improvements, a large part of which may be financed by public-private sector partnerships.

The presumptive secretary of transportation, Elaine L. Chao, is married to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate majority leader. McConnell's influence could be critical in pushing through infrastructure initiatives sought by the administration, and by Shuster's committee.

"We have a unique opportunity to accomplish a great deal for the American people with a president-elect who is focused on improving the Nation's infrastructure," Shuster said in a statement.