Statement from Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) following today’s meeting at the White House to discuss infrastructure:
“Today, we made clear that in order for infrastructure efforts to be successful, the Administration and the Majority need to consider Republican priorities. It cannot be a ‘my way or the highway’ approach like last Congress.
“First and foremost, a highway bill cannot grow into a multi-trillion dollar catch-all bill, or it will lose Republican support. We have to be responsible, and a bill whose cost is not offset will lose Republican support.
“Second, a transportation bill needs to be a transportation bill that primarily focuses on fundamental transportation needs, such as roads and bridges. Republicans won’t support another Green New Deal disguising itself as a transportation bill.
“Last, equity for rural America is a top Republican priority. Rural infrastructure needs cannot be left behind, and we cannot continue to allow a growing disparity between resources provided to urban and rural communities, as we saw in the $30 billion transit funding portion of the Majority’s recent COVID-19 package.
“Republicans are eager to work on bipartisan solutions, but it will take a willingness to compromise and a good faith effort to consider Republican priorities. We all have the same goal of improving America’s transportation infrastructure, but we cannot overlook broad sections of the country in the process."
Source: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
