Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republicans

12/08/2022

House Passes Water Resources Development Act & Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act | Transportation Committee Republicans

The House just passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes important T&I Committee priorities the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, and the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022!

Read full statements from T&I Committee Lead Republican Sam Graves, Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Lead Republican Rep. David Rouzer, and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Lead Republican Congressman Bob Gibbs 👇

The House of Representatives approved two important pieces of legislation today – the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 and the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 – as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

12/07/2022

SocialFlight Live! - Congressman Sam Graves on The Future of Aviation in America

ICYMI ✈️ House T&I Committee Lead Republican Sam Graves joined SocialFlight Live! last night to discuss FAA reauthorization, how to address the pilot shortage, the future of aviation and more!

Congressman Sam Graves represents Missouri's Sixth District and is the ranking member of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the United States Hou...

06/21/2022

Inflation taking bite out of new infrastructure projects

Inflation is taking a toll on infrastructure projects across the U.S., driving up costs so much that state and local officials are postponing projects, scaling back others and reprioritizing their needs....

“Those dollars are essentially evaporating,” said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. “The cost of those projects is going up by 20%, by 30%, and just wiping out that increase from the federal government that they were so excited about earlier in the year.”...

“They are borrowing more money so they can spend more money, (which) is driving inflation, which is cutting down on the projects that they’re actually wanting to do,” said [U.S. Rep. Sam] Graves, a Missouri Republican who voted against the infrastructure bill.

The price of a foot of water pipe in Tucson, Arizona: up 19%. The cost of a ton of asphalt in a small Massachusetts town: up 37%. The estimate to build a new airport terminal in Des Moines, Iowa: 69% higher, with a several year delay.

01/11/2022

The U.S. is 78% import-reliant on cobalt.

The Congo is the world's No. 1 cobalt producer, where 40,000 children work as slave laborers.

T&I Republicans told Secs. Buttigieg and Granholm this week that EVs and EV infrastructure must be made in America with appropriate labor and environmental standards.

The Biden administration's actions to prohibit domestic critical mineral mining leads U.S. tax dollars to support horrific domestic rights abuses and poor environmental practices.

We must lift the barriers blocking implementation of a robust Buy America strategy related to EVs.

11/09/2021

Photos from Rep. Michelle Steel's post

11/07/2021

The ongoing global supply chain crisis is impacting our day-to-day life. Whenever you arbitrarily shut down the economy you are going to have major supply chain disruptions. The major labor shortage is making it that much worse.

The concerns expressed during the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republicans supply chain roundtable with leading industry stakeholders prove why Congress should prioritize ending the supply chain crisis. Instead, President Biden and Congressional Democrats' arbitrary mandates & labor shortage policies are making the situation worse.

10/08/2021

GOP demands Biden stop 'bullying' airlines with vaccine mandate, says taxpayers 'saved' industry

.Ranking Member Sam Graves and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves are urging Biden to drop "coercive and unlawful vaccination schemes" pressuring U.S. air carriers to require their employees to be vaccinated by Dec. 8, or else be fired.

"While we share your goal of ending the COVID-19 pandemic, we object to the unilateral imposition of COVID-19 vaccine mandates on air carriers and other private companies by your Administration. We urge you to drop these coercive and unlawful vaccination schemes and work with Congress and private industry on public health measures to end the pandemic without threatening to end the livelihoods of hardworking Americans"

Top GOP House lawmakers on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee called on President Biden Thursday to reverse his COVID-19 mandates and warned it could have adverse effects on the airline industry.

08/24/2021

Graves Leads Republican Effort on Infrastructure Bill at Rules Committee 8.23.21

WATCH: Today Senior T&I Member Garret Graves criticized Speaker Pelosi for holding infrastructure hostage to advance her $3.5T socialist spending spree full of partisan, Green New Deal priorities. If she succeeds, we’re looking at spending $7T in 9 months on top of $6T spent in 2020.

06/23/2021

ICYMI: Today Congressman Daniel Webster led an Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee hearing with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on the agency's priorities for the upcoming fiscal year and beyond.

Priority issues, such as streamlining the recovery process, investing more in mitigation and resiliency, and reducing red tape for those in need of assistance were discussed, as we aim to improve FEMA's efforts on behalf of disaster victims throughout the country.

Watch Subcommittee Ranking Member Webster's full opening statement below.

06/17/2021

House Approves Republican Bills to Prevent FEMA Clawbacks of Disaster Aid, Expedite Airport Improvements, and Enhance Aviation Safety | Transportation Committee Republicans

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a number of key bills introduced by T&I Committee Republicans to ensure innocent disaster victims won’t have their assistance clawed back by the federal government when it makes an error, encourage the early completion of airport capacity projects, and enhance aviation safety information provided to pilots.

The U.S. House of Representatives today approved bills introduced by Committee Republicans that will ensure innocent disaster victims won’t have their assistance clawed back by the federal government when it makes an error, encourage the early completion of airport capacity projects, and enhance a...

06/16/2021

Rep. Garret Graves Opens Spaceflight Hearing

As the space transportation industry advances, we must prioritize:
-ensuring safety
-leveraging private sector expertise
-promoting efficiency of the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation
-integrating commercial space launches into the NAS

Today Congressman Garret Graves led an Aviation Subcommittee hearing to examine the FAA's role in the future of spaceflight:

"What used to be a science project is now a thriving transportation industry that transports passengers and hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of cargo to, from, and within outer space."

Watch his full opening statement below.

06/10/2021

Day One Recap of the Majority’s My Way or the Highway Bill 2.0 & Wastewater Infrastructure Bill Markup | Transportation Committee Republicans

ICYMI: The Committee has moved into day two of the markup of the Majority's partisan "My Way or the Highway" Bill 2.0 and the partisan wastewater infrastructure bill. So far, the Majority's partisan wastewater infrastructure bill has passed, while all Republican amendments to support bipartisanship were voted down. And as we move toward a vote on the highway bill, key Republican amendments have already been rejected by the Majority. See the full day one recap below.

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure completed day one of an ongoing markup of two one-sided infrastructure bills that could have been addressed in a bipartisan manner had the Majority been willing to do so.

05/26/2021

Infrastructure is infrastructure.

As T&I Republicans continue bipartisan negotiations on infrastructure, Congressman Garret Graves shows why focusing on roads and bridges is so important. The STARTER Act 2.0 will ensure we get historic levels of funding for roads and bridges to states and localities more quickly and without extra strings attached, so they can address their growing infrastructure needs ASAP.

05/24/2021

Ranking Members Sam Graves & Garret Graves Statement on Belarus Diversion of Ryanair Flight | Transportation Committee Republicans

ICYMI: T&I Ranking Member Sam Graves and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Congressman Garret Graves urged the President to direct the FAA to immediately explore all avenues to protect U.S. citizens following diversion of Ryanair flight FR4978 by the government of Belarus:

“While a full and thorough investigation will shed more light, the information we do have suggests that this incident is nothing less than a state-sponsored hijacking of a civilian airliner in order to arrest a political critic. At this point, it seems clear that Belarusian airspace is not safe for American citizens or any who oppose the human rights violations of the current regime, which endangered the lives of every person on flight FR4978. Since Belarus is a signatory of the Chicago Convention, we support calls for the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization to meet as soon as possible to review the incident.

“We are also calling on the Biden Administration to take more immediate action while investigations are ongoing. In order to protect the American and global traveling public, we urge the President to direct the Federal Aviation Administration to immediately explore all avenues to protect U.S. citizens. We also call for the Administration to coordinate with our international allies and partners to ensure the safety of their citizens as well.

“It is our understanding that there are 350-400 flights over Belarus every day. Yesterday, Belarus demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety of these flights and the passengers on board. We must send a clear message to Belarus and the world that such an egregious breach of international law will not be tolerated by the United States.”

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) and Subcommittee on Aviation Ranking Member Garret Graves (R-LA) joint statement regarding the May 23, 2021, diversion of Ryanair flight FR4978, that included American citizens, by the government of Belarus:

05/19/2021

Ranking Member Graves Introduces GOP Transportation Bill

ICYMI: House Republicans want to tackle real infrastructure needs with real solutions through partnership, not partisanship. Today Ranking Member Sam Graves introduced STARTER Act 2.0 – a 5-year, $400B surface transportation bill laying our proposals out on paper:

“I strongly believe that the path to improving America’s infrastructure is through partnership – not partisanship. Republicans want to work together on bipartisan infrastructure solutions, but in order to reach that goal, key principles must be addressed in this process. The STARTER Act 2.0 puts forward our Republican principles; provides historic levels of funding for our roads, bridges, and other surface transportation infrastructure; and ensures that we invest those funds wisely and efficiently.

“Our bill focuses on the core infrastructure that helps move people and goods through our communities every single day, cuts red tape that holds up project construction, and gets resources into the hands of our states and locals with as few strings attached as possible. As the process for considering legislation on infrastructure moves forward, I am eager to see these proposals become part of a robust bipartisan effort – just as the President continues to call for.”

Learn more about what STARTER Act 2.0 does to provide real solutions to improve the nation's infrastructure in the video below.

05/13/2021

ICYMI: Today Congressman Michael Guest led an Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee hearing to examine post-COVID federal real estate issues with private sector witnesses.

"As we saw before COVID, office space usage and design were already changing -- away from the need for individualized offices towards more open floor plans and shared spaces. These savings not only reduced costs for the taxpayer, but also freed up more resources for agencies to invest in their core missions. Since COVID, teleworking increased exponentially across government."
...
"As we examine the future of federal office space, it is important for us to consider private sector trends; whether those trends make sense in the federal real estate context; and what issues and questions we should be addressing or asking."

Watch his full opening statement below or read it here: https://republicans-transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405398

05/13/2021

Today by Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. David Rouzer teamed up with T&I Ranking Member Sam Graves and Congressman Don Young to introduce a bill to help states and local communities – including small and rural communities – address their wastewater infrastructure needs.

“In many communities in my district and around the Nation, water and wastewater infrastructure is long past its design life and in need of urgent repair, replacement, and upgrading. This is especially the case for many of our small and rural communities. I’m proud to introduce this bill, which will provide struggling communities with the resources and flexibility necessary to address their growing needs as well as establish greater resiliency and sustainability of the Nation’s wastewater infrastructure,” Rouzer said.

Learn more about the Wastewater Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2021 here: https://republicans-transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405395

05/12/2021

Republicans welcome the chance to work with Democrats on a bipartisan infrastructure bill

Today Ranking Member Sam Graves penned an Op-Ed in The Hill about his plan to introduce new surface legislation in the coming days. This bill will contain Republican ideas he’s asking the Majority to consider for a truly bipartisan infrastructure package.

"In the interest of finding that common ground, I will soon introduce a highway bill that sets forth Republican priorities that must be meaningfully addressed in order to have a bipartisan package in the House."

Read more about what's in his upcoming bill below.

I hope that my counterparts in the majority will work in good faith with Republicans to address our priorities for a highway bill, so we can find a compromise that both sides can support, like we have on many other infrastructure proposals.

05/07/2021

Chairs DeFazio and Carbajal Join Ranking Member Sam Graves on Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Resiliency of Nation’s Ports | Transportation Committee Republicans

Today Ranking Member Sam Graves teamed up with Chair
Peter DeFazio and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chair Salud Carbajal to introduce bipartisan legislation that boosts investment in small coastal and inland ports, while ensuring our ports are more resilient.

“Projects that focus on improving the efficiency and resiliency of our transportation network make a lot of sense and can help maximize the value of every available dollar for infrastructure investment,” Ranking Member Graves said.

“This bill shows a bipartisan commitment to investing in port infrastructure that not only improves supply chain efficiency, but also improves resilience to floods and extreme weather events. With more frequent flooding along the Missouri River, my constituents and the communities in my district understand the importance of building more resilient infrastructure. In addition, the bill sets aside one-quarter of the grant funds for small coastal and inland river ports – the kinds of facilities that are crucial parts of the supply chain but often lack the resources to finance their infrastructure improvements.”

Today, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Salud Carbajal (D-CA) introduced legislation to help ensure our nation...

05/06/2021

Rep. Crawford Opening Statement at Rail Innovation Hearing

ICYMI: Today Rep. Rick Crawford led a Rail, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee hearing on the state of high-speed rail and other emerging technologies in our U.S. passenger rail networks.

"We must ensure that any federal policies and funding are balanced with a realistic analysis of the needs, consumer demand, and best use of taxpayer dollars."

"While the California High Speed Rail project shows the failures of poor planning, there are promising opportunities for the federal government to foster new rail technologies that are fiscally responsible and respond to the needs of consumers."

Watch his full opening statement below.

04/28/2021

Rep. Weber Opening Statement at EDA Reauthorization Hearing

Today Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Ranking Member Congressman Daniel Webster led a hearing on reauthorization, where T&I Republicans examined ways the Economic Development Administration can help ensure distressed communities’ 21st century needs are met – including access to broadband.

"While EDA can and does fund some broadband projects, we must ensure any unnecessary hurdles are addressed so we can help more Americans get connected."

04/28/2021

Graves Statement from Hearing on Innovation in the U.S. Aerospace Industry | Transportation Committee Republicans

As aerospace increasingly involves more drones, introduces electric aircraft, brings back civil supersonic aircraft, and expands commercial space transportation vehicle usage, the U.S. aims to lead the world.

See Aviation Ranking Member Congressman Garret Graves' opening statement from yesterday's hearing on the future of he aerospace industry below.

Opening remarks, as prepared, of Subcommittee on Aviation Ranking Member Garret Graves (R-LA) from today’s hearing entitled, “The Leading Edge: Innovation in U.S. Aerospace”: Mr. Chairman, About two years ago back in 2019, we had a hearing that you had scheduled called “Aviation 2050” wher...

04/23/2021

Rep. Graves: We Need to Reform the Project Review Process

This week Ranking Member Sam Graves joined GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy's Energy Innovation Agenda event, where House Republicans highlighted dozens of bills that implement energy and climate solutions without crippling government mandates.

He specifically highlighted the BUILDER Act, which aims to make infrastructure project reviews more efficient while spurring economic recovery.

04/21/2021

Rouzer Opening Statement at Hearing on Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure

Today Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. David Rouzer led a hearing on promoting sustainable wastewater infrastructure.

In the hearing, the Subcommittee heard from witnesses about the challenges in reducing wastewater energy use, disaster resiliency and mitigation issues, and the difficulties of one-size-fits-all mandates for “green infrastructure,” as municipalities strive to comply with the Clean Water Act.

Watch his full opening statement below.

04/16/2021

Members of Congress Ask Secretary Buttigieg to Justify Federal Funds for Troubled California High Speed Rail Project | Transportation Committee Republicans

ICYMI: This week, Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Ranking Member Rick Crawford (R-AR) led a coalition members in raising concerns to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg about providing any additional federal funds to California’s high speed rail project, which has met with significant cost overruns and delays since 2008.

He was joined by Reps. Michelle Steel (R-CA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Mike Garcia (R-CA), Michael Guest (R-MS), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Scott Perry (R-PA), David Valadao (R-CA), and Bruce Westerman (R-AR). View their full letter below.

A dozen Members of Congress today, led by Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Ranking Member Rick Crawford (R-AR), wrote to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg detailing their concerns with providing any additional federal funds to California’s high s...

04/14/2021

House Republicans Introduce Bill to Modernize Infrastructure Project Reviews, Cut Costs, Rebuild America | Transportation Committee Republicans

Lengthy project delays cost the U.S. $3.7 trillion in foregone economic gains, but help is on the way:
Congressman Garret Graves just intro'd a bill to modernize the outdated environmental review process, along with Ranking Member Sam Graves and House Republican leaders.

The BUILDER Act modernizes the outdated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to make infrastructure project reviews more efficient, reduce project costs, spur economic recovery and rebuild America.

“The president’s call for bipartisan action on infrastructure should start with reforming the overly lengthy and costly project review process. By approving needed infrastructure projects more efficiently, we can make our limited resources go much further while maintaining strong environmental protections. I commend Congressman Garret Graves for his leadership in this effort, and I look forward to working on bipartisan measures to rebuild our infrastructure with smart, achievable policies," Ranking Member Sam Graves said.

"The National Environment Policy Act was enacted in 1970 to ensure the productive coexistence between the environment and the American people, but after 50 years of bureaucratic desk-jockeying, it has become an unproductive obstacle that is failing the very people and resources it is supposed to be serving. NEPA review is project purgatory, taking orders of magnitude longer to study projects than the time needed to complete them. Our bill fixes this broken approach – while protecting the environment – and updates NEPA so it can fulfill its purpose and deliver to taxpayers the infrastructure enhancements, coastal wetlands restoration, flood protection and other improvements it currently impairs." Rep. Garret Graves said.

Today, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) joined U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-WY), House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Me...

04/13/2021

Bipartisanship on Infrastructure Is Possible Unless It’s ‘My Way or the Highway’ - Morning Consult

Today in Morning Consult Opinion, Ranking Member Sam Graves and Rep. Rodney Davis outlined their vision for bipartisanship in the upcoming infrastructure package.

"As the Republican leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, respectively, our priority is to find areas of agreement on this critical issue with our colleagues across the aisle. As part of this effort, we both met with the president, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and others recently to discuss what it will take to get a bipartisan bill signed into law.

"Since then, the administration has released a broad blueprint of its infrastructure priorities. But the administration’s outline is just the first step in a multi-step process, and as Congress begins developing its own legislation, we remain eager to work with Democrats to find much-needed solutions. To do that, however, we need to meet in the middle."

Read the full op-ed below.

The road to success is paved by partnership, not partisanship.

04/07/2021

Ranking Members Graves and Capito Urge President Biden to Maintain Army Corps Permitting Rule | Transportation Committee Republicans

Today Ranking Member Sam Graves and and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Member Senator Shelley Moore Capito urged President Biden not to revoke USACE's nationwide permits (which already ensure environmental protections), warning it may hinder recovery from the pandemic.

“Bipartisan proposals to invest in our infrastructure will play an integral role in our Nation’s recovery from the pandemic. Revocation of the Corps’ duly issued nationwide permits in pursuit of nominal environmental benefits would hurt our chances at a strong recovery, however, and hinder needed improvements to our Nation’s infrastructure. It is critically important that we continue to pursue policies that responsibly protect our environment and support economic growth and job creation."

Read their full letter on this issue at the link below.

U.S. Representative Sam Graves (R-MO), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee today sent a letter to President Joe Biden regarding the U.S. Arm...

03/30/2021

ICYMI: T&I Republicans Press for Their Infrastructure Priorities at Hearing with Secretary Buttigieg | Transportation Committee Republicans

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 ...