Lawmakers Cite Commitment to Bipartisanship on Transportation Issues

What happened: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), ranking member on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.), chair of the House Highways & Transit Subcommittee, shared their policy perspectives with attendees of ARTBA’s 37^th Annual Public-Private Partnership Conference in Washington, D.C., July 16. Among the highlights:

• Sen. Whitehouse expects the EPW Committee to focus on three “big bipartisan bills” this session: reauthorization of surface transportation programs, permitting reform, and water resources. He said, “bipartisanship is alive” citing his close relationship with EPW Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).
• Whitehouse also said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is “building a record that inspires trust,” but urged the need for compromise when it comes to the administration’s review of certain grant awards.
• Rep. Rouzer echoed Whitehouse’s remarks on the need for cooperation, saying House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) are committed to producing a bipartisan bill. “Whether you are an R or D, you need good roads and bridges,” Rouzer said.
• On permitting reform, Rouzer said, “You need rules of the road, but you don’t need a stop sign every 10 feet,” and expressed interest in finding new ways to improve the project delivery process.
• Rouzer also touched on revenue options for the Highway Trust Fund, saying that while the House-proposed fees on electric and hybrid vehicles did not survive in the final tax bill signed into law by President Donald Trump July 4, it marked a significant step forward and is “not the end of the effort.”

Why it matters: The commitment to cooperation on both sides of Capitol Hill is encouraging with the next highway and transit bill due in October 2026.  A transportation bill will require bipartisan support to advance.

What’s next: Rep. Rouzer said staff are reviewing the 5,000 stakeholder comments and 6,000 Member of Congress requests that were submitted to the T&I Committee regarding the next highway and transit bill.  ARTBA submitted formal industry reauthorization recommendations in April, and both the House and Senate plan action later this year.