MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Rep-elect Rick Nolan has landed one of the committee assignments he wanted most — a seat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Nolan’s office said Thursday he got the word from Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and the House Democratic Caucus.

In a statement, Nolan says the seat is vital to economic development in the Eighth District, which includes northeastern Minnesota. His three predecessors all served on the committee.

He says he’ll use the seat to try to secure money for the Northern Lights Express high speed rail project, maintain subsidized airline service at regional airports, upgrade the Port of Duluth, modernize the electrical grid and make high speed broadband communications available to all.

Nolan, who represented another Minnesota district from 1975 to 1982, takes office next Thursday.

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