Hearing

Opening remarks, as prepared, of Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) from today’s hearing:

The Committee’s legislative priorities this Congress include an infrastructure bill, a surface transportation reauthorization bill, a Water Resources Development Act, a pipeline safety reauthorization, and more. 

We have some obvious challenges ahead.  For example, we need a long-term solution for the Highway Trust Fund.  We all know that we can’t continue to rely on a gas tax that is becoming more and more unreliable.

We also know that transportation technology continues to evolve.  We have to ensure that our infrastructure solutions keep pace and take advantage of the benefits of technology to enhance safety, create efficiencies, and reduce costs.

And we know that the federal processes for approving projects continue to be too bureaucratic.  That’s why we should always look for ways to streamline the infrastructure delivery process wherever possible.

That said, our country has a diverse set of infrastructure needs.  One size does not fit all, and what works for one state or region may not work for another.

As we move forward, an important step is to gather as much input as possible from a variety of stakeholders.  Today we will hear from our Congressional colleagues about the projects and policies that are important to their districts and states.

I look forward to hearing a wide variety of proposals that will help us address infrastructure needs across the United States.

We have passed a lot of good, bipartisan legislation in recent years, and I look forward to adding to those accomplishments.

The President has been outspoken about the need for Congress to develop a bipartisan infrastructure package that can be signed into law, so I hope this hearing today will help us reach that goal.

Thank you again Chairman DeFazio, and thank you to all the Members testifying today.