03/30/2021
ICYMI: In last week's hearing with Sec. Buttigieg, T&I Republicans discussed their priorities for a bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization.
See highlights from Ranking Member Sam Graves, Congressman John Katko, Congressman Don Young, Rep. Scott Perry, and Rep. Brian Babin:
“I don’t think the bill can grow into a multi-trillion-dollar catch-all,” Missouri Rep. Sam Graves, the top Republican on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee said Thursday. “A transportation bill needs to be a transportation bill, not a Green New Deal.”… (USA Today)
“I just came back from a motorcycle ride – my first of the season – and I can reaffirm for you the obvious that our roads and bridges in this country suck. They need a lot of work,” [Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y.] said. “And we can't do it in a partisan manner because it's too big an issue for us.” (USA Today)
“This needs to be about roads and bridges. ... The more massive any bill becomes, the more bipartisanship suffers.” [Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri] (AP)
Representative Don Young, Republican of Alaska, pressed Mr. Buttigieg on whether the Biden administration had a strategy to pay for more than a trillion dollars in spending needs. “We do have to fund this some way,” Mr. Young said. “Does the administration, or yourself, have an idea how to fund this program, other than borrowing?”… (New York Times)
Representative Scott Perry, Republican of Pennsylvania, argued that prioritizing climate change in the bill would provide China, a top manufacturing rival, with an advantage given that Beijing believes that “the West, and only the West, needs to rapidly decarbonize.” (New York Times)
Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, meanwhile, asked Buttigieg if he supported having electric vehicles pay a vehicle miles traveled fee in order to help pay for the Highway Trust Fund. (CQ)
“I’m very open to that,” Buttigieg said. He said he backs a user pays principle to help fund highways, though the particulars of how to implement such a system are still under consideration. (CQ)
…Republicans in recent hearings said they want bipartisan legislation that sticks to transportation and balances rural and urban needs. (Bloomberg Government)
“We need to ensure equity between rural and urban areas,” Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said at a hearing Thursday…. (Bloomberg Government)
Several Republicans criticized the latest stimulus law (Public Law 117-2), passed with only Democratic votes, saying it prioritized urban over rural areas. Many Republicans represent more rural-heavy areas of the country. (Bloomberg Government)
“A major concern with the reconciliation bill—besides the process itself—was how little attention rural America received,” Graves said. (Bloomberg Government)
In Case You Missed It, Committee Republicans highlighted their priorities for a bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization during last week’s first Committee hearing with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Republicans Tell Buttigieg that Biden's Infrastructure Bill Should Focus on ...