After a brief period as Director of the Minas Gerais Western Railway Company ("Estrada de Ferro Oeste de Minas"), Pestana was elected in 1915 and 1918 to the National Congress of Brazil, representing the RIograndense Republican Party. As a congressman, he advocated new investments in rail transport and criticized the lack of an adequate regulatory framework. In 1920, in a joint effort with the Federal Government, he assured the nationalization of the Belgium-based "Compagnie Auxiliaire de Chemins de Fer au Brésil", owned by Percival Farquhar and concessionary of the Riograndense railways since 1905. The "Auxiliaire" was transformed into the Railway Company of Rio Grande do Sul (VFRGS or "Viação Férrea do Rio Grande do Sul"), entirely owned by the State Government.