Graves in line for House transportation chairmanship

(Washington) -- Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves has been selected to head a powerful congressional committee.

Members of a Republican steering committee have named the Tarkio Republican to serve as chair of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Graves was reelected to his 13th term in Missouri's 6th Congressional District in last month's general elections. Serving on the committee the past two years, Graves says the committee worked to pass a number of major infrastructure bills, including the FAA Reauthorization Act and the Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA. He adds the committee has "a golden opportunity" to do more under President-elect Trump's administration. In an interview with KMA News as part of its "Meet the Candidates" series,  Graves says emphasis should be placed on repairing the nation's infrastructure--especially in his northern Missouri district.

"You know, we have a lot of roads in north Missouri that need attention," said Graves. "We have great soils for growing crops, but they're lousy road beds. That soil moves a lot, and that's where we get a lot of our problems when it comes to the roads. So, I do everything I can to bring money back to the district to fund a lot of those road projects."

Graves notes infrastructure has become a priority in Missouri during his tenure with the committee, and he looks forward to seeing that continue. The House Republican Conference still must vote to approve the steering committee's recommendation.