10 things to know about Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio as he leaves office

After 36 years, Oregon is saying goodbye to its longest-serving House member, Rep. Peter DeFazio. The congressman, who represents Oregon’s Fourth Congressional District, announced last year that he would not seek reelection after his current term ends.

“It’s time for me to pass the baton to the next generation so I can focus on my health and well-being," DeFazio said in a statement announcing his retirement. "This was a tough decision at a challenging time for our republic with the very pillars of our democracy under threat, but I am bolstered by the passion and principles of my colleagues in Congress and the ingenuity and determination of young Americans who are civically engaged and working for change."

During his time in office, DeFazio focused on transportation and infrastructure, environmental issues, veterans issues, and education among other issues affecting southwestern Oregon, leaving behind a legacy of change.

As the year comes to a close and DeFazio spends his last few days in office, here are 10 things to know about the congressman’s time serving Oregon.

Early career and education

DeFazio was born in Needham, Massachusetts. He attended Tufts University for his B.A. and served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1967 to 1971. In 1977, DeFazio received a master's degree in gerontology from the University of Oregon.

After his time in school, DeFazio began working as an aid to former Rep. Jim Weaver, who held the congressional seat before him. DeFazio served as a Lane County commissioner before being elected as a U.S. representative in 1987.

DeFazio and his wife, Myrnie Daut, live in Springfield. During his time in Congress, DeFazio had the longest commute of any congressman in the lower 48 states.

Longest serving House member from Oregon

DeFazio was elected in 1987 to serve as the U.S. representative for Oregon's Fourth Congressional District, which includes Eugene, Springfield, Roseburg, Corvallis, Coos Bay and Florence. This year marks DeFazio's 36th year in Congress, making him the longest-serving House member from Oregon. It also makes him the 65th longest-serving member of the House in United States history.

Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

In 2018, DeFazio was elected to serve as chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The position has jurisdiction over the Coast Guard, water resources, highways and transit, aviation, railroads, and economic development.

Prior to becoming chair, DeFazio served as chairman or a ranking member of four subcommittees including Aviation, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Highways and Transit, and Water Resources and Environment.

Founded the Congressional Progressive Caucus

In 1991, DeFazio formed the Congressional Progressive Caucus along with five other U.S. representatives, including Rep. Bernie Sanders. The caucus has 101 members now, and it is the largest ideological caucus in the Democratic Party. It is the second-largest ideological caucus overall after the Republican Study Committee.

Authored and Passed the Moving Forward Act

In July 2020, the House of Representatives passed DeFazio’s Moving Forward Act. The legislation invests more than $1.5 trillion into roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports and harbors, schools, housing, broadband, drinking and wastewater systems, postal service, clean energy sector and health care infrastructure, among others.

Oregon will receive $3.6 billion over five years for highway funding and more than $863 million over five years for transit funding under the Moving Forward Act. Funding from the legislation also goes toward bridges, public transportation, wildlife crossings, the Federal Lands Access Program, a pre-disaster mitigation program, Indigenous tribes and federal land management agencies.

Funded and investigated local veterans clinics

DeFazio helped secure $80 million to build a new veterans clinic in the Eugene area after determining the existing clinic could not serve the growing veteran population. The new Eugene VA Health Center opened in 2016.

DeFazio also advocated for a VA Central Office investigation into reports of poor health care and personnel issues at the Roseburg and Eugene VA healthcare clinics.

The entire Roseburg VA Healthcare Clinic System senior leadership team was replaced due to the investigation, and it resulted in changes to regional and national protocols.

Restored the Coquille Tribe’s federal recognition

DeFazio in 1988 sponsored the Coquille Restoration Act, which extended Federal recognition to the Coquille Indian Tribe. The bill passed in 1989.

The Coquille Indian Tribe, located in southwestern Oregon, had its federal recognition taken away under a 1954 statute. The Coquille Restoration Act restored the rights and privileges of the tribe and its members.

Every year on June 28, the Coquille Indian Tribe celebrates Restoration Day, and according to the tribe's website, it remains the most joyful day on the Coquille tribal calendar.

Protected Oregon's wilderness

During his first term in Congress, DeFazio passed the largest expansion in the lower 48 states of Wild and Scenic rivers. It added 40 river segments throughout Oregon.

In 2014, DeFazio's legislation, The Oregon Caves Revitalization Act, passed. The legislation expanded the Oregon Caves National Monument by 4,070 acres and ensures that the caves and surrounding watershed are protected from water contamination and pollution.

It also designated the River Styx, an underground stream that runs through Oregon Caves, as the first subterranean wild and scenic river in the nation.

In 2019, three of DeFazio's conservation bills became law.

The bills permanently protect more than 390,000 acres of Oregon wilderness including 30,500 acres of Devil’s Staircase, segments of the Chetco River and 100,000 acres of the Steamboat Creek Watershed of the Umpqua National Forest. These areas include places that are vital to salmon and steelhead survival and places that provide clean drinking water.

Investigated the Boeing 737 MAX

DeFazio in 2018 led an investigation as chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee into the causes of the Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashes, which resulted in the combined deaths of 346 people.

The investigation into the Boeing 737 MAX lasted 18 months and revealed flaws in the creation and certification of the aircraft. It also held the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing accountable.

DeFazio helped negotiate changes in federal aviation law that allowed more transparency in the aircraft certification process, protecting public safety.

Netflix released a documentary, titled Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, earlier this year that follows DeFazio's investigation into the two crashes.

295 scholarships at 5 community colleges

According to his website, one of DeFazio's proudest accomplishments is contributing funds to 295 scholarships and debt reduction at five Oregon community colleges.

DeFazio voted against and refused to accept every congressional pay raise while the government is deficit spending, and instead used his pay raises to fund those scholarships.

As of the end of 2020, DeFazio had contributed $466,744 of after-tax salary to scholarship funds.

Makenzie Elliott covers breaking news and public safety for The Register-Guard. Reach her at MElliott@gannett.com. Find her on Twitter at @makenzielliott.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio retires: A look back at his career