LaHood,
who has served in the position since 2009, wrote on DOT's blog that he plans to
stay on until a successor is confirmed. Seen as a staunch
advocate for expanded air traveler rights, LaHood cited several DOT achievements during his tenure,
including job creation stemming from the $48 billion in
transportation funding from the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009,
the
reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, the "Moving
Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act to help states build and repair
their roads, bridges and transit systems," the
Distracted Driving Initiative and various other safety
efforts related to transit systems, highways and pipelines. He also noted
ongoing initiatives related to NextGen air traffic control and development of
high-speed rail lines.