Press Releases

Washington, DC – Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and other Committee Republican leaders are featured in the Washington Times in a series of columns focused on the Committee’s agenda for the 119^th Congress and their goals as leading members on T&I.

In addition to Graves, the Times section called “American Infrastructure: Building the Future” features Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster; Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry; Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer; Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins; and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell.  Other T&I Republicans featured are Reps. Brian Babin, Mike Bost, Bruce Westerman, Jefferson Van Drew, and Eric Burlison.

T&I Chairman Graves lays out the Committee’s priorities for the next two years and how he will work with the Trump Administration to focus on traditional infrastructure:

“President Trump is a builder who will get America back to building real infrastructure. He knows the challenges of trying to keep a major project on schedule and within budget. In that spirit, T&I began the 119th Congress with hearings focused on building infrastructure in America. Under the Trump administration and Republican majorities in Congress, now is the time to address the issues that have long plagued major American infrastructure projects.” Read more

One of the Committee’s priorities for this Congress is the next surface transportation reauthorization. Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Rouzer writes about this bill and how it will affect every community in the country:

“This important legislation is a significant opportunity to craft and implement policies to fuel economic growth, support well-paying jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our transportation systems…. Across the country, many bridges, roads, and highways need repair or replacement, and these critical projects must be addressed. This is not just about infrastructure. It is about protecting the millions of Americans who rely on these essential connections every single day.” Read more

Rouzer also points out the need for vital infrastructure projects to be completed on time and within budget, a sentiment reinforced by Water Resources and Environment Chairman Collins in his op-ed about water infrastructure. Collins points to a project in his home state of Georgia as an example of unexplained delays to critical projects:

“Take for instance Georgia’s Brunswick Harbor, which is the nation’s busiest port for moving cars and heavy machinery. A project to deepen the harbor was completed in 2007, and the only time it has been dredged to that authorized level was 15 years ago in 2010. Why has it been 15 years?... These are just a few of the many examples of challenges to water infrastructure modernization throughout the country.” Read more

Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Chairman Webster writes about the increase of crime at Amtrak and America’s freight railroads. Over the past few years, incidents of assaults, drug-related offenses, and other crimes on Amtrak trains and stations have risen, as have cargo thefts of freight rail.

“The American people deserve a transportation system that is secure, accountable, and not exploited for political or criminal purposes. My colleagues and I will work closely with President Trump and his administration to implement stronger oversight, ensure transparency in federal funding, demand that Amtrak prioritizes the safety of its passengers, and encourage coordination of law enforcement to prosecute criminal operations.” Read more

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Chairman Ezell, in his bipartisan op-ed with his Democratic counterpart, reenforces the importance of the Jones Act, a law that supports America’s shipbuilding capabilities and our national security:

“First, the Jones Act safeguards American jobs. The maritime industry supports nearly 650,000 jobs nationwide, providing stable, well-paying work for shipbuilders, mariners, dockworkers, and others. Without the Jones Act, these jobs would be outsourced to foreign shipyards and foreign mariners, harming American workers and weakening our economy. Additionally, the Jones Act is critical to national security. A strong domestic maritime industry ensures we have the ships and workforce necessary to support our military and respond to national emergencies.” Read more

Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Chairman Perry highlights wasteful spending in federal office space utilization, and his bill – now signed into law – to save billions of dollars for taxpayers:

“Seventeen of 24 federal agencies are using 25% or less of their headquarters office space, a recent Government Accountability Office study found, costing the American People roughly $2 billion a year to maintain…. It’s an outrageous waste of money, and the American people shouldn’t continue to be saddled with paying for nothing. No Keystone State family or small business would operate in such a reckless, unwise, and injurious manner.” Read more

Rep. Babin highlights the importance of investing in ports, waterways, and other water resources infrastructure for global commerce and protecting communities:

“During my time on this committee, one thing has become clear: water resource projects are essential for protecting communities. Whether it’s mitigating disastrous floods, keeping our ports and waterways safe and navigable for global commerce, or restoring ecosystems for everyone’s enjoyment, water resources are vital to us all…. For the United States to continue being a leader in the global energy market, we need to continue investing in our ports and waterways to ensure capacity for larger vessels, safe and navigable channels, and opportunities for growth.” Read more.

Rep. Bost focuses on putting people above politics when it comes to infrastructure, from addressing the shortage of parking for our truckers, to reducing delays for projects that Americans depend on, and ensuring that rural America isn’t left behind in transportation programs:

“Farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses rely on well-maintained infrastructure to stay competitive. Prioritizing rural roads and highways isn’t just good policy, it’s vitally important to keep America running. This isn’t about politics it’s about people. It’s about ensuring our roads, bridges, and supply chains serve the hardworking Americans who rely on them every day.” Read more.

Rep. Westerman discusses how oppressive federal oversight and lengthy and costly permitting processes burden our economic competitiveness and our ability to build effective infrastructure:

“There’s a grave danger to the constant regulation of systems designed to propel us into the future and prohibit us from being able to build necessary infrastructure. If we want to see projects completed in our lifetime and to compete with countries like China and Russia, the answer is in the permitting reform process.” Read more.

Rep. Van Drew emphasizes the need to leverage technology and resources, including AI, towards increasing efficiency and productivity and revitalizing our infrastructure:

“By leveraging technology, unleashing our natural resources, and accelerating the pace of our government, we will bring about the golden age of the United States. This renaissance will deliver generational prosperity for our nation and is exactly what the American people voted for.” Read more.

Rep. Burlison underscores a renewed focus on infrastructure policies this Congress to reduce red tape and wasteful, counterproductive regulations:

“A clear message is being sent to the world: America is once again open for business. Businesses and stakeholders can move forward with confidence knowing that reliable energy, a streamlined permitting process, and a pro-growth regulatory environment is here to stay.” Read more.