House Transportation Panel Signals Optimism on Highway Bill

"We have multiple legislative priorities that the committee must reauthorize, including our surface transportation programs," says House Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves. (Al Drago/Bloomberg)

WASHINGTON — The leadership of the House Transportation panel again expressed optimism about the passage of a surface transportation reauthorization measure before the end of the year.

On Jan. 14, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), the committee’s chairman, told colleagues he expects to schedule consideration of the bipartisan highway bill in a couple of months. Doing so would set the terms for the bill’s passage in the chamber before summer.

During a “member day” hearing to allow House policymakers to offer insight about the bipartisan bill, Graves said, “Looking ahead to this year, we have multiple legislative priorities that the committee must reauthorize, including our surface transportation programs. The committee has already been hard at work on the next surface transportation bill, and we plan to mark it up early this year.”

Pointing to infrastructure metrics determined by the American Society of Civil Engineers, which called for vast investments for roads and bridges, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) echoed the chairman’s sentiment. Larsen is the panel’s ranking member: “Our committee is committed to passing a bipartisan surface transportation bill that will continue to improve our infrastructure and transportation systems.”

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Larsen 

At member day, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, sought to capture the moment: “We have the opportunity to strengthen green, resilient infrastructure and expand choice and equity in transportation systems.”

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), a senior appropriator, amplified concerns associated with rail connectivity.

“I implore your committee to please work on upgrading both passenger and freight rail service and freight rail safety across northern Ohio and Indiana,” Kaptur said. “Many across our nation have seen troubling headlines in recent years about serious rail accidents, and boy have we had them.”

Rep. Tim Moore (R-N.C.), a member of the Budget Committee, directed the panel’s attention to his home state’s post-disaster rebuilding efforts.

“Western North Carolina does continue to recover from Hurricane Helene,” Moore explained. “This was an absolutely, just, generational disaster that I hope we never see repeated. But it is; our communities are resilient. Our folks are working hard, and I appreciate the efforts of this administration and this Congress to help western North Carolina as we rebuild.”

Across the Capitol, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) has indicated the highway legislation is likely to be debated in March or April. Capito recently emphasized the ongoing need to invest in modernizing surface transportation corridors while identifying a long-term funding fix for the nation’s highway system.

Maintenance for federal roadways is backed by the Highway Trust Fund, an account approaching insolvency that relies on revenue from federal fuel taxes.

While the next highway bill is likely to reflect bipartisan proposals, Republican leaders continue to emphasize “traditional” concepts. These policies would include robust investments for road and last-mile projects. Potential fees on electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as guidance specific to artificial intelligence, are expected to be debated during the bill’s upcoming negotiations.

Law Expires in September

The country’s primary surface transportation policy law was enacted in 2021 and its authorization expires at the end of September. Transportation policymakers on Capitol Hill have pledged a commitment to updating the law prior to its expiration.

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McMaster

Speaking at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting Jan. 12, Federal Highway Administration chief Sean McMaster said the nation consistently benefits from a transportation bill that promotes reliable funding for stakeholders. The new highway bill, he continued, also should look to enhance safety, modernize infrastructure systems, streamline federal projects and promote economic growth.

“We must ensure reliable, predictable funding by enacting a long-term, multiyear bill,” McMaster added. “That funding will facilitate technology, research and innovation.”

For emphasis, he said the legislation amounts to the “fundamental mechanism for providing the necessary funding and priorities” to upgrade transportation corridors.

D+ Grade from ASCE

In 2025, the American Society of Civil Engineers issued a D+ grade for the country’s network of roadways, despite noting some gains.

“Although Americans’ travel patterns have shifted in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) have rebounded,” ASCE stated. “Some 39% of major roads in the U.S. are in poor or mediocre condition, an improvement from the 43% recorded in 2020.”