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Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, elected Nov. 19 as��the House Democrats’ top transportation leader in the next Congress, told Transport Topics this week he is hopeful about Congress’ chances of advancing a long-term highway bill before the current law expires in May.

Senate Republicans on Nov. 13 unanimously elected Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to become the chamber’s leader of the majority.

Vice President Joe Biden urged lawmakers and transportation stakeholders to invest in port-expansion projects to accommodate the large ships that will travel through the expanded Panama Canal next year.

American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves sent a letter to every member of Congress asking them to pass a fiscal 2015 expansive omnibus funding bill during the post-election lame-duck session.

Oregon Democrat Peter DeFazio will look to take over as the ranking member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the next Congress, a senior House aide told Transport Topics.

Voters handed��control of the U.S. Senate to Republicans on Election Night,��strengthening the GOP's ability to advance transportation initiatives��when the next Congress convenes in January.

A majority of voters from West Virginia’s rural 3rd Congressional District have opted not to send Rep. Nick Rahall back to Congress for a 20th term.

As expected, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) defeated Democratic challenger Shenna Bellows in the Nov. 4 midterm elections, to win a fourth term in the Senate, according to press reports.