Malinowski lands Transportation committee

Freshman Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Rocky Hill) has won a seat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, a perch that allows him to advocate for the Gateway tunnel and other critical New Jersey projects.

During his successful bid to unseat five-term incumbent Leonard Lance (R-Clinton) last year, Malinowski promised that infrastructure and transportation improvements would be his top legislative priority.

Enhancements to the Raritan Valley Line was at the top of his list.

“Investment in public infrastructure is key to America’s greatness and essential to our national security. It has been a generation since Congress took on a comprehensive effort to reshape our nation’s transportation policies and Americans are suffering for it,” Malinowski said. “For our district, there is no more urgent economic and quality of life imperative than to complete the Gateway Tunnel Project, arguably the most important infrastructure project in America.  I look forward to working with Chairman DeFazio to ensure that the administration implements phase one — replacing New Jersey’s Portal Bridge, the main source of rail delays on the Northeast Corridor — and to secure long term funding for the Gateway Hudson River Tunnel.”

Malinowski said that as a congressional candidate, one of the most common “demands” from voters was to “fix t he damn trains.”

“It is my pledge that a Democratic House will be friendlier to New Jersey and that revitalizing New Jersey’s infrastructure is among my highest priorities,” Malinowski said.

Malinowski joins Reps. Albio Sires (D-West New York) and Donald Payne (D-Newark) as members of the committee.  Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-Ventnor) had served on the committee before his retirement at the end of the 116th congress.

This story was updated at 1:47 PM on Thursday with comment from Malinowski.