The future of the Decatur Airport and unmanned aerial vehicles were major issues addressed by U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis during a Thursday morning stop in Decatur. About a dozen business leaders and others joined Davis, R-Taylorville, at the Decatur Airport; as each took turns over the hour raising their own thoughts and concerns related to almost everything aviation. Covered a range of topics, from the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, to the importance of the airport to su...
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The Metro East dodged a major economic blow Thursday with the news that U.S. Steel won’t shut its Granite City Works or lay off 2,000 workers. The Pittsburgh-based steel giant in March gave a 60-day warning that it planned to close the mill until the flagging demand for steel revived. In a surprise reversal, the company confirmed Thursday that only 80 jobs will go. The mill will continue to operate but at a lower production rate. U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, revealed the change of plans T...
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U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final “waters of the U.S.” rule: “I am greatly disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised, by today’s announcement,” said Davis. “This is yet another example of the EPA ignoring the concerns of our farmers and failing to understand the real-life impact of their rules and regulations. The finalization of this rule further highlights the need and urgency for creati...
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U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act. The bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw their current proposed rule to expand “waters of the United States” and develop a new proposal that takes into consideration more than one million public comments on the rule, the economic analysis of the rule, and discussions with state and local governments. “Time and time again the EP...
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U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today welcomed acting Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Randy Blankenhorn to Champaign to kick off IDOT’s state-wide, infrastructure listening tour. “Our local leaders understand the transportation needs of their community better than anyone,” said Davis. “I applaud Secretary Blankenhorn for launching this listening tour to gather input from local officials, stakeholders, and th...
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U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced today that the committee has unanimously passed a bill to reauthorize and reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which includes Davis and Bustos’ provision to bring fairness to the federal disaster declaration process. H.R. 1471, the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015, includes language that requires FEMA to give greater weight and consi...
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U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Dina Titus (D-Nev.) announced today the introduction of H.R. 1393, the Innovation in Surface Transportation Act, a bill to give local communities a stronger voice in determining how federal transportation dollars are spent at the state level. “The Innovation in Surface Transportation Act will give our rural communities and smaller cities like Springfield, Bloomington-Normal, Champaign, and Decatur in my district, a greater say in how federal transportation do...
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U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 749, the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 by a bipartisan vote of 316-101. H.R. 749 will improve rail grant programs available to states, reduce costs, help leverage private investments, and increase transparency for Amtrak. Specifically, this bill reauthorizes grant programs that can be used to relocate passenger and freight rail lines. “I am pleased by the amount of bipartisan support s...
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U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) today released the following statement regarding the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) announcement of proposed rules for the commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). “Our rules and regulations must keep up with technological advances in aviation or the U.S. risks falling behind our competitors,” said Davis. “With the proper regulation, I believe the use of small UAS could transform operations within our agriculture and energy industries. It’...
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U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) announced today that the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure unanimously passed the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 to improve rail infrastructure by improve grant programs available to states, reduces costs, leverage private investments, and increase transparency for Amtrak. Specifically, this bill reauthorizes the Rail Line Relocation and Improvement Capital Grant program (RLR) and the Intercity Passenger Rail Service Corridor C...
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