Sam Graves

In order to be successful, we must work together to develop a bill that has robust bipartisan support.

Addressing the issues we will hear about today is one of my top priorities for the rail portion of the FAST Act reauthorization.

The notion that the way a community experiencing blocked grade crossings should try to solve the problem is to fill out a report and submit it to FRA or call the railroad and hope the railroad will unblock the crossing is not a solution.

Finding practical and cost-effective solutions to improve grade crossing safety, such as through equipment upgrades, grade visibility improvements, and closing or eliminating crossings, serve to not only to save lives, but also eliminate…

While I'm pleased we now have the money to get that grade separation constructed, there are numerous other crossings I would like to see separated.

Railroad safety is a top priority for the rail industry, for our states and communities, and for this Committee.

the desire to impeach the President runs so deep that even issues related to public buildings have become partisan.

If the international shipping community were a foreign nation, they would rank sixth in the world in terms of air emissions from ships.

I applaud the industry for tackling this issue head on, including proposing new ways to raise funds for research on reducing carbon emissions.

With that said, we want to make sure any regulations or set targets are realistic and achievable.

Effective and reliable water infrastructure is vital to America's global competitiveness--it supports economic development and creates jobs.

There needs to be an adjustment made in how the Corps considers the protection of people's lives and property.

It is absolutely critical that we determine whether these unproven IRC structures even work AND that they don't negatively impact navigation and flood control before even considering the construction of more of them.

I certainly appreciate you all's efforts to take a look at that.

some ports and harbors of all sizes struggle to remain competitive in the global shipment of goods

We have not forgotten your losses, and I assure you we all share the same goal--ensuring our system remains the safest in the world.

We have not forgotten your losses. And I am sure that we all share the same goal, and that is ensuring that our system remains the number one system in the world and the safest system in the world.

And when the FAA clears the 737 MAX to fly again, it is going to be safe to fly. There is no doubt in my mind.

So again--and I know when you read the report, too, that the copilot--the pilot asks, "Can you trim the aircraft?"

I know that Administrator Dickson, his team, and the thousands of FAA professionals are all dedicated to aviation safety and improving any processes that need improvement.

Your efforts remind us that this is about people. It is not about Government bureaucracy process. It is about people and safety.

should the investigations reveal problems within the certification process, then I think Congress can and they should act, or we should act, accordingly.

I completely agree with you. And that is exactly why we are here.

Something I worry about just a little bit is the direction we are taking--and this isn't about Democrats and Republicans because I hear it from both sides--and questioning the safety of our system.

I, along with all Republicans on the Committee, am committed to addressing any problems discovered in the process and working with the Chairman in a bipartisan fashion.