By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves returns as chair of the House Transportation Committee in the new Congress.
Graves had to get a waiver from the Republican Caucus to continue as chair, because he has served the number of terms allowed by Caucus rule. Graves says the committee has much to do over the next two years, looking at what Graves calls “real” infrastructure.
“That is laying asphalt, pouring concrete, building bridges,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “We’re not going to be looking at green spaces and things like art for Amtrak stations and bike paths. We’re going to be building real infrastructure and that’s roads and bridges.”
Graves served for four years as the ranking member of the committee, the longest serving member from the minority party, until being appointed chairman two years ago. House Republican Caucus rules limit committee members to six years in leadership, which includes years as ranking member. The Caucus granted Graves’ request for a waiver of the rule so he could continue as chair.
“Very proud of that,” Graves says. “Very proud of the fact that they have enough confidence in me to give me another term as chairman and I’m looking forward to getting the work done; getting organized and getting our work done.”
That work includes a new highway bill, Coast Guard reauthorization, a pipeline safety bill, and a water resources bill.
Graves says there is a hefty agenda awaiting the committee.
“And there always is,” Graves says. “We are an authorizing committee, which means we have to reauthorize all of these programs within the silo of dollars that comes from the user fees from these various modes of transportation. I like to tell folks that we’re a work committee. We’re not a show committee. We have a lot of work to get done and a lot of authorizations. And we did that in the last Congress under my chairmanship and we’re going to do it this Congress as well.”
The new Congress has been sworn in, ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump.
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