T&I Chair Graves envisions a return to the basics in next reauthorization bill

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, recently penned an opinion column on his vision for the next surface transportation authorization bill.

In a piece published late last month by The Washington Times, Graves called for a return to "the basics" for federal funding of surface transportation infrastructure programs.

The House T&I Committee already has held hearings to begin drafting the legislation that will succeed the existing law, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, which expires Sept. 30, 2026.

"In talking with constituencies representing viewpoints from all over the country, we must maintain and expand flexibility on how these important programs function," Graves wrote. "States are the best judge of their unique transportation and infrastructure needs. Flexibility is especially important for states like my home state of Missouri, which has many rural communities. We need to continue to empower states and limit federal intrusion."

Specifically, Graves called for the reauthorization legislation to:
• streamline the infrastructure project permit process to reduce costs and speed up completion; and
• fix the Highway Trust Fund, which uses the federal gas tax to fund road and transit projects, to require drivers of electric vehicles and hybrids to contribute to the fund by paying registration fees.

"America is a nation that builds," Graves wrote. "We need to get back to building, and that starts with legislation focused specifically on improving our roads, bridges, and other surface transportation infrastructure."