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- Professionals
- Jack L. Schenendorf
Jack Schenendorf’s practice concentrates on transportation and legislation with a particular focus on legislative strategy, legislative procedure, and the federal budget process. He recently served as Vice Chair of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.
For nearly 25 years, Mr. 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. In BNA's Daily Report for Executives, Mr. Schenendorf was described "as one of the most powerful staffers on the Hill, [who] has played a large role in crafting every piece of major transportation legislation in the past decade."
Prior to joining the firm in 2001, Mr. 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.
- Advised Associated General Contractors, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and Association of Equipment Manufactures on transportation legislation and transportation financing.
- Advised United Airlines on aviation, pension, tax, and bankruptcy matters.
- Advised Qualcomm on telecommunications, patent, tax, and government contracting matters.
- Advised Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor Coalition on transportation authorization and appropriations matters.
- Advised Union Pacific on transportation-related matters.
- Advised Friends of the High Line on transportation authorization and appropriations matters.
- Advised the American Automobile Association on legislative strategy.
- Advised Massachusetts Transportation Authority on transportation-related investigations.
- Advised Aloha Airlines on aviation-related matters.
- Advised Koch Industries on transportation-related financing issues.
Pro Bono
- Service on National Surface Transportation Revenue and Policy Study Commission, which was established by SAFETEA-LU to study the future of surface transportation programs and financing.
- Advised DC Appleseed on Anacostia River infrastructure projects.
- Advised National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on transportation financing matters.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Congressional Quarterly’s Capitol Net, Instructor (advanced legislature procedures; federal budgeting)
- Sigma Chi, Lifetime Member
Previous Experience
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, Chief of Staff (1995-2001)
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, Various Staff Positions (1976-1994)
- National Commission on Water Quality, Counsel (1975-1976)
- United States Navy, Nuclear Submarine Program, Officer (1967-1972)
January 19, 2021, Global Policy Watch
Reconciliation is a process under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) that allows Congress to implement budget priorities affecting direct spending, revenues, and the debt limit using expedited procedures. The principal benefit to using reconciliation is that a reconciliation bill cannot be filibustered in the Senate. As a result, it takes only a ...
November 10, 2020, Global Policy Watch
Starting with COVID-19 relief, both former Vice President Biden and President Trump have embraced the need for another COVID-19 economic stimulus package. A Biden administration would likely pursue “high-multiplier” policies that funnel money to people and businesses that need it and are likely to spend it, thereby helping funds circulate through the economy ...
2019, American Bar Association
Our cross-disciplinary Internet of Things initiative contributed to the ABA's first book on IoT, The Internet of Things: Legal Issues, Policy, & Practical Strategies. Laura Kim and Jennifer Johnson authored the chapter “U.S. Regulatory Framework for IoT,” with contributions from Sarah Wilson (product safety); Wade Ackerman, Elizabeth Guo, Christopher Hanson, ...
February 15, 2018, Bloomberg
Jack Schenendorf is quoted in a Bloomberg article regarding a proposal to raise gas tax. Increasing tax in an election year “will be quite difficult," says Schenendorf. “It’s quite necessary and Congress has known it’s necessary for a long, long time,” he adds. “This is a real opportunity with the president on board.”
December 21, 2017, The Bond Buyer
Jack Schenendorf is quoted by The Bond Buyer in an article regarding the Trump Administration's long-awaited infrastructure plan. According to Schenendorf, "I think the tax bill was a missed opportunity." Commenting on public-private partnerships (P3s), Schenendorf says, "I think P3s will be an important part of the overall proposal.” He adds that he thinks ...
June 6, 2017, Law360
Jack Schenendorf is quoted in a Law360 article regarding questions that Congress will have to answer when tackling air traffic control reform. Commenting on who is going to pay for the new ATC entity, Schenendorf remarks, "The only entities that would not have to pay in are the federal entities using the system, so they say everyone should contribute something ...
April 28, 2017, The Bond Buyer
Jack Schenendorf is quoted in a Bond Buyer article regarding the relationship between President Trump's tax proposal and infrastructure funding. According to Schenendorf, the fate of Trump's infrastructure plan is directly tied to tax reform. "My view has always been that how the Trump plan is funded and where the money will come from would be determined in the ...
April 4, 2017, The Bond Buyer
Jack Schenendorf is quoted by The Bond Buyer in an article regarding the Trump Administration’s plan to release infrastructure legislation as early as May. According to Schenendorf, moving the infrastructure package up to May looks like an effort by the Trump Administration to get some positive momentum. "They ran into problems with healthcare reform and tax ...
DOT Budget Undermines Trump’s $1T Infrastructure Promise
March 16, 2017, Law360
Jack Schenendorf is quoted in a Law360 article regarding President Trump’s 2018 budget blueprint, which would cut the Department of Transportation’s funding by 13 percent, and its effect on the promised infrastructure investment plan. “Transit systems going forward would seem to be taking a big hit, but in today’s world it’s important to have good seamless ...
FAA’s Drone Rules Break New Ground
June 24, 2016, The Wall Street Journal
Jack Schenendorf is quoted in a Wall Street Journal article regarding the new FAA rules on commercial drone usage. According to Schenendorf, FAA leaders “are showing a lot more flexibility” than under traditional safety rules. He adds, however, that the FAA now “could be flooded with requests” for waivers, and how it handles them will help determine the agency’s ...
June 22, 2016, Global Policy Watch
On Tuesday, June 21, 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) finalized its long-awaited rule on the commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS” or “drones”). The rule is significant because it provides a comprehensive and generally applicable set of rules for anyone wishing to operate a small drone for commercial purposes. Before the ...
Obama's $98B Transpo Budget Unlikely To Gain Traction
February 9, 2016, Law360
Jack Schenendorf is quoted in this Law360 article discussing how the Obama administration’s proposed $98.1 billion budget for the U.S. Department of Transportation for fiscal 2017 is unlikely to pick up much momentum. According to Schenendorf, "It's just very surprising that the administration didn't make much of an effort during the surface transportation bill ...
December 16, 2015, Global Policy Watch
On December 14, 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a significant regulation that requires all owners of small unmanned aircraft systems – between 0.55 and 55 pounds – to register with the agency. News outlets have good summaries of the rules, so we only recap them here. An individual who owns a drone before December...… Continue Reading
Freight Wins Big In Highway Bill As Banks Hold The Bag
December 2, 2015, Law360
Jack Schenendorf is quoted in a Law360 article discussing the winners and losers of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST ACT) Schenendorf said, “Overall, the bill is a significant accomplishment because one of the real problems the program has been going through — over 30 short-term extensions — is there hasn’t been time for states to do any ...
Industry lobbyists take aim at proposed FAA drone rules
February 23, 2015, Reuters
Covington's Jack Schenendorf is quoted regarding the 60-day public comment period on the FAA's proposed Drone rules: "This is the chance for all the parties who think the FAA got it wrong to come forward and say why," said Jack Schenendorf, a former House Transportation Committee staff member who now works for law firm Covington & Burling"
February 18, 2015, Global Policy Watch
This past weekend the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) took the first steps to allow the routine use of certain small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for commercial purposes in U.S. airspace. In taking this highly anticipated action, the FAA released a proposed rule, an overview of the proposed rule, a fact sheet and a press release. ...… Continue Reading
Key Drone Restrictions In FAA And White House Proposals
February 17, 2015, Law360
Covington's Kurt Wimmer and Jack Schenendorf have authored this article on drone restrictions announced in FAA and White House proposals: "On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration and White House addressed the growing use of unmanned aircraft systems by the private sector and government." "The White House released a memorandum that imposes privacy ...
December 10, 2014, Global Policy Watch
Members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure pushed the FAA on Wednesday, December 10, to accelerate integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into U.S. airspace, expressing concern that regulators in other countries are ahead of the FAA in permitting safe UAS use, setting back economic development in the United States. But these ...
August 18, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, August 18, 2014 — Best Lawyers named Covington & Burling’s Stuart Eizenstat and Gregg Levy each a 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” in international trade and sports law, respectively, citing their “abilities, professionalism and integrity.” Overall, Covington lawyers received 217 individual mentions in 58 areas of law in the newly released annual survey ...
July 7, 2014, Global Policy Watch
When Congress returns this week from the July 4th recess, it will once again find itself grappling with legislation to replenish the Highway Trust Fund, which is fast running out of money. Congress must act by the end of July to keep the Trust Fund solvent. If it doesn’t, the U.S. Department of Transportation will...… Continue Reading
June 9, 2014, Global Policy Watch
House Republican leaders, Boehner, Cantor, and McCarthy have a proposal to address the Highway Trust Fund’s desperate funding problems and the reauthorization of MAP-21, which is set to expire on September 30, 2014. As discussed in an earlier post, one of the biggest challenges facing Congress in the MAP-21 reauthorization process is what to do...… Continue ...
May 15, 2014, Global Policy Watch
The potential for drones, i.e., unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), is tremendous. After years of being associated with military operations, the civilian UAS market is expected to dramatically expand in the United States in the next ten years. A multitude of conceivable applications for UAS — including mapping, weather forecasting, law enforcement, news ...
May 14, 2014, Global Policy Watch
One of the biggest challenges facing Congress in the reauthorization process is what to do about the fiscal condition of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) which supports funding of the federal highway and transit programs. Simply stated, the HTF is on the verge of insolvency. It has both a short term and long term problem....… Continue Reading
Drone lobby takes flight on K Street
May 14, 2014, The Hill
Covington's Jack Schenendorf is quoted regarding drone regulations, “It’s so widespread because it almost has a science-fiction element to it,” said Jack Schenendorf, a former Capitol Hill staffer who worked to prime the Bush administration’s incoming Transportation Department in 2001. “We’re creating a regulatory scheme where there really isn’t one today,” said ...
Law Firms Vie For Early Stake In Drone Law Frontier
March 28, 2014, Law360
Covington's Jack Schenendorf is quoted regarding the emerging field of commercial drone law.
9/25/2013
WASHINGTON, DC, September 25, 2013 — Jack Schenendorf, of counsel at Covington & Burling, testified today before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the need to invest in the country’s infrastructure and preserve federal transportation funding. In his testimony, Mr. Schenendorf explained that in recent decades the United States has ...
Testified Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works
September 25, 2013, U.S. Senate
Seven Covington Lawyers Named ‘2013 Lawyer of the Year’
September 13, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, September 13, 2012 — Best Lawyers in America named seven Covington & Burling lawyers today as “2013 Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas and cities. The selected lawyers received strong ratings from their peers for their “abilities, professionalism and integrity,” in the publication’s annual survey. Best Lawyers recognizes only ...
August 27, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, August 27, 2012 — Covington & Burling LLP lawyers received 196 individual mentions in 57 areas of law in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top U.S. lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as ...
September 7, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, September 7, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP lawyers received 184 individual mentions in 56 areas of law in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: ...
July 22, 2011, BNA Daily Report for Executives
August 6, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, August 6, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 138 individual mentions in 40 areas of law in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
August 7, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, August 7, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP received 131 individual mentions in 38 areas of law in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
April 7, 2009, Covington E-Alert
April 1, 2009, Covington E-Alert
February 5, 2009, Covington E-Alert
Government Affairs Practice Group Post Election Analysis
November 7, 2008, Covington Report
September 29, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, September 29, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP received 124 individual mentions in 40 areas of law in the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
1/15/2008
WASHINGTON, DC, January 15, 2008 — The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission today released the results of its nearly two-year study, which calls for a “new beginning” to reform the nation’s transportation programs into a world-class system. During a press conference held at the National Press Club, the bipartisan national ...
September 6, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, September 6, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP received 115 individual mentions in 38 areas of law in the 2008 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The recipients are as follows: Administrative: E. Edward Bruce and ...
Covington's Jack Schenendorf Elected Vice-Chairman of National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission
July 12, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2006 - Covington & Burling LLP's Jack Schenendorf was elected Vice-Chairman of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. The Commission was created under Section 1909 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). It is comprised of 12 members ...
Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Committee on Transportation and Infrastucture on Financing Water Infrastructure Projects
June 8, 2005, U.S. House of Representatives
- Best Lawyers in America, "Lawyer of the Year" for Transportation (2013)
- Best Lawyers in America, Transportation (2007; 2012-2014)
- Washington DC Super Lawyers, Transportation/Maritime (2014-2015)
- Appointed to National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, elected Vice-Chairman (2006)

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