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Contributor
Jack Schenendorf
Related Link: http://www.cov.com
Biography provided by participant
Jack Schenendorf is Of Counsel with the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP in Washington, D.C. His practice concentrates on transportation and government affairs with a particular focus on legislative strategy, legislative procedure, and the federal budget process. He recently served as Vice-Chairman of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, which was established by Congress in the SAFETEA-LU legislation. After more than two years of study, the Commission issued its Report in 2008. For nearly 25 years, Schenendorf served on the staff of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was Chief of Staff from 1995 to 2001. Prior to joining the firm in 2001, Schenendorf served on the Bush/Cheney Transition where he was Chief of the Transition Policy Team for the U.S. Department of Transportation and was responsible for reviewing all transportation policies and issues for the incoming Administration. Schenendorf is a graduate of Union College and Georgetown University Law Center. He also served in the U.S Navy as an officer in Admiral Rickover's Nuclear Submarine Program for more than five years prior to law school.
Recent Responses
December 6, 2012 06:28 PM
Exciting Times For Transportation
This week’s blog asks a number of questions. Let me take them one at a time.
What should committee members be focusing on next year when it comes to transportation?
There are a number of measures—such as a water resources development bill, a rail reauthorization bill, and reauthorization bills for a number of smaller programs—that are due for action in 2013. In addition, the committee should start work on the surface transportation reauthorization effort, given that MAP-21 expires on September 30, 2014, which in political terms is right around the corner. And the committee should also conduct aggressive oversight of its programs, especially DOT’s implementation of the extensive reforms in MAP-21.
Furthermore, in 2013 the President and Congress will likely try to get the nation’s fiscal house in order by enacting comprehensive tax reform and spending reform. As part of that effort, the committee should look for opportunities to address transportation’s “fiscal cliff:” the looming Highway Trust F
Continue ReadingFebruary 22, 2012 02:56 PM
Putting the National Interest First
This week’s question focuses on some of the challenges--such as partisan politics and parochial interests--facing Congress and the Administration as they attempt to enact a multi-year surface transportation bill. Also this week, we just so happen to be celebrating the birthdays of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two Presidents who were very much concerned that partisan politics and parochial interests could weaken America and keep it from achieving greatness.
If America is to be great, Presidents Washington and Lincoln believed that we must transcend party politics and overcome narrow self-interests in favor of the common, national good. And they understood the importance of initiatives--like navigation improvements in the case of President Washington and the transcontinental railroad in the case of President Lincoln--that bind the country together, making it stronger, more prosperous and more secure.
We would do well to heed their sage advice. It is not that Congress and the Administration do not know what to do. Commission after Commi
Continue Reading