PRESS RELEASE
November 20, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: communications.az04@mail.house.gov 

Stanton Named Most Effective Democratic House Member for Advancing Transportation Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representative Greg Stanton this week was recognized by the Center for Effective Lawmaking(CEL), as the most effective Democratic Member of Congress in the policy area of Transportation for the 118th Congress.

Stanton is the only Arizonan to serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he has worked to protect Arizona’s water resources, invest in the state’s commercial and civil aviation economy, bring home federal funding for roads, highways and transit systems, and more.

CEL is a joint partnership between the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University.

“This recognition reflects what I've always believed: effective leadership means delivering real results. By working across the aisle on critical transportation issues—from enabling cutting-edge technologies like drones and autonomous vehicles to ensuring travelers with disabilities have dignity and access—we're proving that bipartisan solutions are still possible when you focus on people over politics,” said Stanton.

Specifically, Stanton was recognized for his work on the following bills:

H.R. 4049, the bipartisan Access and Dignity for All People Who Travel Act of 2023, which became law in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations regarding seating accommodations for passengers with disabilities and personal care attendants who should be afforded an adjoining seat according to the Air Carrier Access Act. It also creates an optional Known Service Animal Travel Pilot Program to provide service animal users the opportunity to participate in a streamlined pre-registration process, and publish guidance on training for airline staff and contractors on recognizing when a passenger with a disability is traveling with a service animal. Provisions of this were included in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024.

H.R. 4446, the bipartisan Store On-Board Wheelchairs in Cabin Act of 2023, which requires airlines to provide information on the airline website—and anywhere people can make reservations— regarding the rights and responsibilities of both airlines and passengers as to the availability of on-board wheelchairs. It would also require annual staff training regarding assisting people with disabilities on the use of on-board wheelchairs and the right to request an on-board wheelchair.

H.R. 3447, which would authorize hydrogen powered vehicles to exceed certain weight limits on the Interstate Highway System. Currently, federal code allows for certain exemptions for gas and electric battery vehicles, and this bill aims to extend those exemptions to hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles as well. The bill passed out of Committee 55-5.

H.R. 3593, the bipartisan Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act, which would provide $100 million in grants for local governments to purchase drones or contract for services to inspect critical infrastructure and help ease the nation’s serious inspection backlog, and another $100 million for training the next generation workforce on the use of this technology.  Provisions of this were included in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024.

H.R. 7126, the bipartisan AV Accessibility Act. People with disabilities often face unique challenges accessing existing modes of transportation, and AVs hold tremendous potential to address unmet mobility needs. However, AVs don’t fit neatly into traditional legal constructs of driver and passenger, and require policy makers to start thinking differently. The AVAA will ensure passengers are legally protected if an AV is pulled over or other issues occur, even if they do not hold a driver license due to their disability. It also requires the U.S. Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the National Academies of Science, to study best practices for public transportation infrastructure to be modified to improve the ability of Americans with disabilities to find, access, and use ride-hail autonomous vehicles, including during pickup and drop off.

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Congressman Greg Stanton is the former mayor of Phoenix now proudly representing Arizona’s 4th District in Congress—encompassing all of Tempe, and parts of Phoenix, Mesa and Chandler. Stanton serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. He serves in leadership of the New Democrat Coalition—a group of more than 100 moderate, solutions-oriented Democrats.

Reach Congressman Stanton’s office through a new, toll-free constituent services hotline — 1-833-643-6114 — that connects residents of Arizona’s Fourth Congressional District directly with Stanton’s staff to request help with federal agencies, schedule tours and meetings, or share opinions on legislation.