Leadership challenge on T&I Committee raises questions

A routine change of leadership on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is looking more like a power struggle in a legislative body that carries weight in public finance policy and rulings.

On Wednesday Rep. Rick Crawford ,R-Ark., formally announced he was running for the Chairmanship of the T&I Committee while Rep. Sam Graves, R- Mo., the current chair has expressed a desire to stay on. 

The chair position, combined with any time spent serving as the ranking member is limited to a six-year term. Graves is in his second year as chair and served four years as the ranking member when the Democrats still held the majority in Congress.    

Graves used Thursday’s State of the Union address to blast the Biden administration’s approach to grant programs along with climate and equity efforts. 

“Although the President talked about the success of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the fact remains that too much of the money provided in the bill is not getting to our states and communities because of the federal bureaucracy, convoluted and confusing grant processes, and the Administration’s prioritization of climate, equity, and environmental justice over effective improvements to the nation’s infrastructure network,” he said via a statement.  

In his pitch for the position Crawford took a more nuanced stance. “The work we do on this committee is serious, and it requires a balanced approach from someone willing to work with the other side of the aisle and with hundreds of stakeholder organizations,” said Crawford in a statement.

“Through collaborative effort between the two, we’ve developed one of the most efficient and respected committees in Congress, and I hope to build upon this success as chairman.” 

Graves could retain the position via a waiver from the Republican Steering Committee which includes the upper echelon of House leadership. Waivers have been granted in the past including one that allowed Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., to remain in charge of the Education and the Workforce Committee at the beginning of the 118^th Congress. 

The whole process could be upended by changes of power in the upcoming November elections. 

The T&I Committee has jurisdiction over highways, bridges, mass transit, railroads and aviation. Its oversight extends to the Coast Guard, Amtrak, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the General Services Administration the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Transportation. 

“The Highway Trust Fund is always something of note,” said Brett Bolton, VP of federal legislative & regulatory policy, Bond Dealers of America. “T&I tends to pass big bills with financing provisions, tax provisions. It’s clearly a committee we like to stay in touch with and work with.” 

Last July the House passed the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration with blessings from Graves but it’s been caught up in continuing resolutions since then. Graves received strong marks from the muni community  dating back to 2017 when he championed maintaining the tax-exempt status of private activity bonds.

“Graves a pretty good deal maker, I think he’s been a pretty productive chairman,” said Bolton.  “Rick Crawford, to me is a little bit more of an unknown.”