WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Transportation, which is expected to play a key role in President Obamas economic infrastructure rebuilding plan, will be headed by Ray LaHood, a retired Republican congressmen from Illinois.

Obama picked the 63-year-old LaHood to be secretary of the USDOT, which includes the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, two motorcoach industry regulatory agencies.

LaHood, who did not seek re-election to Congress in November, was known during his congressional days for his willingness to criticize his own party and to work with Democrats. His district included Peoria, Ill., headquarters of diesel engine maker Caterpillar Inc., which made a decision last year to exit the on-highway commercial vehicle market by 2010.

In 2002, the moderate LaHood led an unsuccessful charge to get the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to delay implementation of rules cutting emissions from diesel trucks and buses.

He is a former member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and most recently was a member of the influential House Appropriations Committee.

In 2005, LaHood cited the importance of infrastructure spending, calling that years highway bill "a much-needed boost to our economy from the federal government."

LaHood said the $268.4 billion spending package would "put people to work, increasing tax revenue to help address our states huge budget hole, and helping to move the economy of Illinois in the right direction."

Obama appointed former Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., to be his Secretary of Labor. Solis was a Congressional Hispanic Caucus leader and was considered to be one of the most reliably pro-union voices in the House. Solis, 51, is the second Latino member of Obamas cabinet.