Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., is changing the structure of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee regardless of what happens in the mid-terms by stepping away from 26 years in the U.S. Congress.
"This wasn't an easy decision, but it's the right one," said Graves. "I believe in making room for the next generation. It's time to pass the torch and allow a new guard of conservative leaders to step forward and chart a path forward for Missourians."
Graves has been the chairman of the powerful House T&I Committee since 2024 even though chairmanship term limits threatened to bounce him out. A waiver from the GOP Steering Committee kept him in control.
Before he checks out next January, T&I is saddled with reauthorizing a surface transportation bill and passing a new Water Resources Development Act.
Bond issuers are keeping a sharp eye on the surface transportation reauthorization and the ongoing tug of war between a number of factions
Graves' legacy includes accolades from muni advocates, transit leaders and ranking member Rep. Rick Larsen, D- Wash., his bipartisan partner on the Committee.
"We see ourselves as an island of partnership in a sea of partisanship in the U.S. Congress," said Larsen. "The Committee works that way because of one person, and that one person is Representative Sam Graves."
Larsen is considered to be the favorite of taking over if the Democrats retake the House.
Rep. David Rouzer of North Carolina who currently helms T&I's highways and transit panel, appears to be in position to take over if the Republicans retain control.
Graves joins a list of 36 Republican members of Congress who are not seeking reelection. The number is already two higher than the 34 who bailed out before the midterms of 2018.
According to the current count Democrats are losing 21 members. Congressional turnover necessitates ongoing education for the muni bond lobbying community.
"Chairman Graves was a longtime steady hand at the helm T&I Committee with vast institutional and policy knowledge that will be missed," said Brett Bolton, vice president of federal legislative & regulatory policy for the Bond Dealers of America.
"As a longtime supporter of the tax-exemption, Mr. Graves understood the value of bond financing and over the years worked to support it."
Public transit has emerged as a favorite target for the Trump administration as the U.S. Department of Transportation has picked fights with major carriers over safety concerns, funding methods, and congestion pricing.
"Chairman Graves has been a trusted partner to the public transportation community," said Paul P. Skoutelas, president and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association.
"We are mindful of how much his leadership has shaped the path forward — and how much work remains, with the September 2026 reauthorization deadline fast approaching."
While the churn continues on Capitol Hill, the trench work of advocating for public finance goes on.
"We plan to continue pressing his Committee to include key bond provisions such as restoring tax-exempt advance refunding and raising the bank qualified limit in his final surface transportation reauthorization," said Bolton.
