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Raymond H. LaHood

Secretary of Transportation (since January 2009)

Why He Matters

LaHood announced he was retiring from Congress after representing Illinois' 18th Congressional District for 14 years, then found himself accepting a huge new job when President Obama nominated him to be secretary of Transportation. The Republican now presides over what will probably be the nation's largest public works endeavor in recent history- rebuilding and extending the highway, public transportation and aviation systems - as part of Obama's economic stimulus package. It will be LaHood's job to "remake our transportation system for the 21st century,'' Obama said when he announced the selection.

LaHood doesn't have a real background in transportation issues, although he served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for six years. But he has a reputation as an effective, old-style lawmaker who brought home plenty of bacon to his district while on the House Appropriations Committee.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: U.S. House (1994 to 2008); Illinois House of Representatives (elected 1982); Chief Planner, Bi-State Planning Commission (1974 to 1976); former chief of staff to Rep. Bob Michel (R-Ill.) (1990 to 1994)
Birthday: Dec. 6, 1945
Hometown: Peoria, Ill.
Alma Mater: Bradley University, B.S., 1971

Spouse: Kathy
Religion: Catholic
Web site

Path to Power

LaHood is the grandson of a Lebanese immigrant and the son of a restaurant manager. He was born Dec. 6, 1945, grew up in Peoria and earned a degree in education and sociology at Bradley University there. He taught in public and Catholic schools, then worked as the chief planner for the Rock Island-based Bi-State Metropolitan Commission and later as director of the Rock Island Youth Services Bureau.

He became district administrative assistant to former Congressman Tom Railsback (R-Ill.) and served one term in the Illinois State House in 1982. Then he took the same district administrative assistant position with Rep. Robert Michel (R-Ill.), who was the House Republican leader. Soon LaHood became Michel's chief of staff and, when Michel retired, LaHood ran for his seat in 1994 and won. That was the year of the Republican revolution, but LaHood was one of only two Republicans who did not sign House Speaker Newt Gingrich's (R-Ga.) Contract With America.

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The Issues

The Transportation Department (DOT) has many responsibilities, but essentially they boil down to three categories: financial grants for highways, transit systems and Amtrak; regulatory oversight of airline, railroad and highway safety; and the operation and management of the air-traffic control system. It has also become a primary dispenser of funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as President Obama's massive stimulus package.

While an Illinois House member, LaHood voted with a majority of his Republican colleagues 84.5% of the time during the 110th Congress. He was one of only 32 Republicans who voted in December 2008 for the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act, which passed the House but failed in the Senate.

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Distribution of Stimulus Funds

LaHood's DOT has been a primary purveyor of funds from President Obama's $787 billion stimulus package, enacted in February 2009. DOT has received $48.1 billion in stimulus funds, of which $38.6 billion had been distributed through "existing programs" as of the one-year anniversary of the passage of the stimulus.Eight billion in stimulus funds was also allocated to a high-speed rail program.

That money is mainly distributed to the states, with California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois receiving the bulk of the funding.

"I've traveled to 31 states and 67 cities," LaHood said. "When I go out on these projects where we put our stimulus dollars, I talk to real people who are in real jobs, making real money, who a year ago were on unemployment."

High-Speed Rail Project

In January 2010, President Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden announced the awarding of $8 billion for a high-speed intercity rail program "which will help create jobs and transform travel in America."

"The President's bold vision for high-speed rail is a game changer," LaHood said. "It's not only going to create good jobs and reinvigorate our manufacturing base, it's also going to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and help create livable communities. I have no doubt that building the next generation of rail service in this country will help change our society for the better."

The project will be administered by DOT and is aimed at establishing "13 new, large-scale high-speed rail corridors across the country. The major corridors are part of a total of 31 states receiving investments, including smaller projects and planning work that will help lay the groundwork for future high-speed intercity rail service."

"Unlike many Republicans in Congress, LaHood has a record of supporting funding for Amtrak and public transit," the Chicago Tribune reported.

Airline Passengers and Auto Safety

LaHood was outspoken in support of the 2009-2010 recall of millions of Toyota cars because of defective accelerators. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, headed by David L. Strickland, is part of DOT and is investigating whether Toyota recalled the cars in a timely manner. In a rare move, NHTSA has used its legal authority to compel the carmaker to submit documents about whether it complied with agency rules to notify it of safety problems within five days of their discovery. Any infringement could lead to a $16.4 million fine.

Meanwhile, LaHood won plaudits from consumer advocates for announcing tough penalties of $27,500 a passenger for airlines for failing to provide food and water after two hours of a plane waiting on the tarmac, or a chance to disembark after three hours of waiting. The rules will take effect in spring 2010.

"This is President Obama's 'Passenger Bill of Rights,'" LaHood said, although some industry groups said it would create more flight delays and cancellations.

Driving While Texting

In January 2010, LaHood launched a public education campaign dubbed FocusDriven to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving, meaning texting, talking and using handheld phones and computers when driving.

""I'm on a rampage about distracted driving. I'm not going to give up on it," LaHood said. "I'm going to do everything I can to try to make sure people drive safely - without cellphones, without Bluetooth, without BlackBerrys."

LaHood has alled distracted driving a "menace to society." In 2008, over 5,800 people were killed and 515,000 were injured in crashes where one of the drivers involved was distracted, according to a DOT report. "I put my BlackBerry in my glove compartment," said LaHood. "I think we're all tempted, but we have to create means for not doing these things. And what I do is put it in a little middle glove compartment in my old Buick." Thomas, Ken, "LaHood: Distracted Driving a 'Menace to Society,'" The Associated Press, Sept. 30, 2009

At the end of the two-day long discussions, LaHood announced that President Obama signed an executive order banning federal employees from texting while driving when using government vehicles. The order also banned texting while driving if the employee used government-issued phones or are conducting official business.

The Network

As Transportation secretary, LaHood will be a member of two important clubs: former members of Congress and former members of the Illinois congressional delegation. He will also be working closely with former House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WestVa.).

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Additional Resources