Hearing
Organizational Meeting and Hearing: The State of Transportation Infrastructure and Supply Chain Challenges2167 Rayburn House Office Building
At the organizational meeting of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee approved the Committee Rules for the 118th Congress. Opening remarks, as prepared, of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO): America has a vast transportation network that is essential to the nation’s economic competitiveness, the movement of people and goods both nationwide and globally, and is integral to Americans’ quality of life. Vulnerabilities within our transportation network were laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic and were only made worse by stifling regulations. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law on November 15, 2021, provided $1.2 trillion, roughly half of which went toward programs under this Committee’s jurisdiction. Although I did not support IIJA, I accept that it is the law of the land. What we have to do is make sure Congress and this Committee ensure the money from IIJA is spent responsibly and is directed toward making our Nation’s transportation supply chain more efficient and resilient. We owe it to the American people to do just that. |