By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostCongressman Sam Graves hopes a piece of legislation moving through
Congress will address some of the structural problems which have led to recurring
flooding along the Missouri River.Graves says the House transportation committee gave bipartisan
approval to his Water Resources Development Act, which he says addresses
several issues.“It moves us closer to a lower Missouri River flood control
plan,” Graves tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “It allows the Corps
to start construction on flood control projects much quicker than in the past,
particularly in repeatedly flooded communities.”Graves says the legislation makes protecting communities and
family farms along the Missouri and its tributaries a priority. He says it also
gives communities help in planning and putting in place flood control projects
and speeds up the approval process.Graves says the Water Resources Development Act is an example of
bipartisan legislation which he insists is still possible even in these
politically polarized times. Graves asserts he might well be a staunchly
conservative Republican, but that doesn’t mean he can’t work with Democrats in
Congress. In fact, Graves, who is running for re-election, says members in
Congress have to work across the political aisle.“The way you get legislation done is by working with both
sides,” according to Graves. “You come to an agreement and then you move
forward. You can’t get anything done if you just go with a total partisan
agenda.”Graves says leaders might have made a mistake in shutting down
the country due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, adding that isn’t
meant to make light of COVID-19, a virus which has hit home to him.“My daughter, son-in-law, and my grandkids have COVID right
now and they’re quarantined at home,” Graves says. “I know just how tough this
is, but this isn’t the first time we’ve had a pandemic in the United States and
the United States is a pretty tough country.”Graves says COVID-19 restrictions hurt independent small
businesses the most, because they didn’t have any corporate money behind them.

Congressman Graves moves Missouri River legislation in Congress