This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Nov. 8, 2010 - WASHINGTON - Deciding to continue focusing mostly on transportation and infrastructure issues, U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., said Monday that he will not contend for the post of ranking Democratic member of the House Science and Technology Committee. Because Republicans will have a House majority in the new Congress that begins in early January, GOP members will take over all committee chairmanships.
Costello, who has become one of the top Democrats on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee -- chairing its aviation subcommittee -- said in a statement that he is "deeply committed" to the work of that panel. He will still retain his seat on the science and technology committee, but not as the ranking Democrat.
Costello, said "there is a great deal of important legislation to address next year" on the transportation panel, possibly including a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administation, a new highway bill, and the Water Resources Development Act. He said: "I want to maintain my focus on these issues in which I have invested so much time and attention, and which should be a major part of our continued efforts to improve the economy."