House Chairman Wants Highway Bill That Looks to Technology
Congress Sets Government Shutdown Record During Off-Year Elections
Key Takeaways:
- Rep. Sam Graves outlines highway bill that considers autonomous vehicles.
- Senate has taken up consideration as current bill is approved through fall 2026.
- Three Democrats on Nov. 5 were elected to governorships and the mayor of New York.
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WASHINGTON — The top transportation policymaker in the U.S. House of Representatives recently detailed his vision for comprehensive highway programs amid a record-breaking shutdown that has disrupted Congress’ calendar.
Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure panel, said he intends to advance a conservative-leaning surface transportation measure that recognizes emerging technologies while prioritizing long-standing infrastructure networks.
In a wide-ranging interview with Punchbowl News on Nov. 4, the chairman explained, “I want to put a highway bill together that addresses the next 20 years of issues within the transportation system rather than overreact into the last 10 years. And that’s what we have to do.”
“We can’t imagine what it’s going to look like in 20 years,” Graves continued. “We’ve already got driverless trucks, driverless cars, driverless airplanes. The technology is going to explode. We have to anticipate where that technology is taking us, and put together a bill that addresses it.”
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Additionally, Graves emphasized ongoing efforts designed to streamline federal environmental permitting processes. He noted that his committee’s upcoming highway bill will look to facilitate the completion of large-scale transportation projects as well as ensure long-term funding for highway maintenance projects. It also will seek to enhance safety along freight and commuter corridors, and improve supply chain connectivity.
Specific to highway maintenance funding, revenue from the federal Highway Trust Fund is on schedule to run dry in fewer than two years. The account is backed by dwindling revenue from federal gas and diesel tax rates that have not increased since 1993.
Graves aims to finalize a new multiyear highway measure, and faces an authorizing deadline next year to do so. Earlier this year, the influential committee chairman outlined a framework for such comprehensive legislation. Describing it as a “back to basics” proposal, Graves said, “After recent years of expanding and creating more programs, spending money we don’t have and losing money to project approval inefficiencies, we can and must focus on our most fundamental infrastructure needs.”
On the other side of the Capitol, the Senate’s transportation committees began to debate potential provisions for consideration in the upcoming highway bill. Current highway operations have congressional approval through the fall of 2026. The most recent highway bill was approved as part of 2021’s Biden-era $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
During a partial government shutdown that began Oct. 1, the House transportation panel has not met to debate the upcoming highway bill. The Republican-led chamber has remained in recess while it awaits approval of a short-term government funding bill in the Senate. A partisan impasse over federal health care subsidies has contributed to the shutdown’s record-breaking duration. Nov. 6 marked the shutdown’s 37th day.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), facing growing calls from several members of his caucus to reconvene the chamber, has yet to formally announce when the House will resume legislative business. Following off-year elections in New York City, Virginia and New Jersey with favorable outcomes for Democrats, the speaker again blamed the shutdown on the party in the congressional minority.
“The reason we’re stuck right now is because of one simple fact: If they vote to reopen the government, the Senate Democrats are afraid that the radicals in their party will say that they caved,” the speaker said Nov. 6. “They’re afraid of the retribution that will come from that.”
From left: Abigail Spanberger, Mikie Sherrill and Zohran Mamdani. (Spanberger via Facebook; Sherrill by Congress.gov; Mamdani by New York Assembly)
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) also took aim at Democrats. He claimed they “should be embarrassed — embarrassed — that federal workers are lining up at food banks and missing bills and in danger of losing homes or cars because Democrats can’t summon enough members to support a clean, nonpartisan funding resolution.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), his party’s leader in the upper chamber, suggested the recent off-year election outcomes must lead to bipartisan negotiations on Capitol Hill. “To [President] Donald Trump and the Republicans: Work with Democrats. Work to end your shutdown by meeting with us and addressing the health care crisis,” the Senate Minority Leader said Nov. 5. “The American people have spoken. It’s about time the Republicans finally listen.”
On Nov. 4, former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) won the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial contests, respectively. In New York City, Zohran Mamdani (D) was elected mayor.
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