Commentary: Straight Talk with Sam
U.S. Rep. Sam Graves R-Missouri
Dear Friend,
We can’t move into the future if we aren’t building today. Whether it’s our air traffic control system, our levees or our highways, we must modernize our infrastructure. As the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m committed to doing exactly that.
President Trump is a builder as well. This week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy testified before the committee. He laid out the Trump Administration’s plan to get back to the basics and make America build again, and I’m happy to say that it tracks with my agenda for infrastructure as well.
One way we do that is through the highway bill. It dictates everything we do with our roads and bridges and lays out the programs that will fund those projects over the next five years. The current bill expires in 2026, which means the time is now to get this done. That’s exactly what we’re doing.
We’ve solicited input for the bill from a wide variety of folks and from every member of Congress, who work with their constituents every day. Rest assured, if you’ve got a crumbling road or need a new bridge — and who doesn’t? — we’re hearing about it. If there’s a transportation policy that isn’t working, we’re hearing about that too. In total, the Transportation Committee received over 11,000 requests and ideas for this bill, and we’re going through them right now. The highway bill affects any person that moves in this country and that’s why it’s critical we get it right.
It’s important that we get back to basics and focus on the programs that ensure our roads and bridges get built and maintained. Some of that funding goes directly to the states and some of it is awarded through competitive grants. Over the years, I’ve helped secure some of those grants for projects like the Buck O’Neil Bridge in Kansas City, the South Main Street Improvement project in Maryville and, most recently, the Highway 54 expansion in northeast Missouri.
We also need to ensure that states have the flexibility to address their own needs. While folks in Missouri know what’s best for us, that may not work in other states, and vice versa. On top of that, we’ve got to keep the focus on cutting red tape and moving projects ahead more efficiently. Time is money — we have to get projects approved with less delay.
Finally, we must fix the Highway Trust Fund. It’s a true trust fund which means the user pays to use the system. The problem is that we’re falling behind. Every vehicle — including electric vehicles — needs to be paying to use the roads if we’re going keep the fund solvent.
Much of what we do at the Transportation Committee may not be flashy, but it matters when your road is falling apart or a bridge is weight limited. That’s why I’m looking forward to putting together this highway bill so we can get America building again.
Sincerely,
Sam Graves
