Stone, Sand and Gravel REVIEW - May/June 2018 - 33
| FEATURE Q&A with Congress of the other modes that move people and goods around the country. The only tough question is how do we pay for it. That is why I have focused my efforts on fixing how we pay for our infrastructure. In 2016, I led a bipartisan effort in the House that resulted in a majority of both parties, 253 total members, expressing their support for a long term, sustainable fix to the Highway Trust Fund. The letter was supported by over 30 organizations from organized labor to construction material organizations like NSSGA. My hope is the letter helps lay the groundwork for addressing how to fund our infrastructure for the next 5, 10, or 25 years. Sam Graves, R-Mo. IN FEBRUARY 2018, the White House released four principles of an infrastructure bill and asked Congress create a bipartisan bill that aligns with the administration's proposal. Hearings continue to be held on Capitol Hill on rebuilding America's aging roads, highways and bridges. House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., heads a committee that recently focused on infrastructure funding needs. His committee oversees the development of a national transportation policy and focuses on improving America's highway system. Rep. Graves sat down with Stone, Sand & Gravel REVIEW to talk about the focus that Congress and the administration have on infrastructure. The president campaigned on a $1.5 trillion package. Is Congress willing to make a long-term investment in our infrastructure? Everyone supports having a strong infrastructure network whether that is roads and bridges, airports, or any What does a serious investment in our nation's infrastructure entail? Is it just an increase to the user fee on gallons of fuel? The budget deal and recently passed Omnibus bill was a good start. That gave us a $20 billion down payment on the President's request for increased investment in our infrastructure with $10 billion of that being immediately distributed to our major transportation programs for airports, roads and bridges, and rural broadband. Our infrastructure network will get an immediate boost from this investment In terms of a gas tax increase, it is my belief that the support in Congress is not there to raise it. Frankly, none of the current funding mechanisms can solve the problem. We have become too reliant on fuel tax to pay the bills and it isn't meeting our needs. That is why I want to see us pivot to a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) which has greater potential to put us on a sustainable path for funding our future transportation needs. As I've said before, all options are on the table and Congress should be looking at everything including what States have done to fund their STONE, SAND & GRAVEL REVIEW, www.nssga.org 33