House committee opens reauthorization effort, frames preservation of IIJA investments and aggressive schedule

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure opened its hearings in the 119th Congress with statements from Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Richard Larson outlining the committee's priorities for reauthorizing surface transportation programs that expire in 2026.

Chairman Graves said the committee will "approach the creation of this legislation the same way we tackle the FAA reauthorization" and will solicit feedback from members and stakeholders. He said the committee will set an aggressive hearing schedule to gather information on the nation's transportation system, where investments should be directed, and how to streamline project delivery for faster completions.

Ranking Member Larson emphasized bipartisan progress under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), citing independent analyses and project counts. Larson pointed to work already delivered, including the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, and argued that continued federal investment supports jobs, safety and resilience. He repeated his call to preserve IIJA funding levels and to use formula funding predictably, noting that roughly 90% of certain highway and bridge dollars move by formula to states.

Both leaders said they intend to work across the aisle and with the next administration to complete a surface transportation bill with broad input, while recognizing that not every member will get every priority. The hearing record shows committee members and invited witnesses focused on a set of recurring topics: the need to maintain IIJA-level investment, permitting and environmental-review reform to speed project delivery, workforce shortages in construction and trucking, port modernization, and truck parking shortages.