His colleagues gave him their votes of support.

On Wednesday, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., became the new chairman of the U.S. House Highways and Transit Subcommittee. The vote came out of a meeting of the Democratic Caucus of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Tuesday night.

“I am looking forward to tackling the tremendous challenges we face to plan, build and pay for a 21st century transportation system,” the congressman said in a press release announcing his appointment.

In his new capacity, DeFazio vowed to look into what he characterized as a Bush administration push to privatize and toll existing interstates.

“We also will examine the myriad safety issues posed by the possibility of allowing Mexican trucks into the U.S., hours of service for truck drivers, and cyclists on rural roads.”

Mass transit's listed as one of his priorities, too.

The subcommittee is scheduled to hold its first hearing on Jan. 24. That's when the members are to take testimony on the challenges facing the nation's transportation system over the next 30 to 50 years.