Crawford seeks GOP panel’s top seat
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., announced Wednesday he will seek the top Republican spot on the House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the next Congress, with the possibility of becoming the committee’s chairman depending on this fall’s election outcome.
The Jonesboro congressman made his intentions known as current Committee Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., intends to challenge term limits set to end his tenure at the conclusion of the current Congress early next January.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee oversees legislation involving transportation networks and related infrastructure projects, as well as how agencies implement regulations affecting travel and commerce.
Crawford currently serves as chairman of the committee’s Highways and Transit Subcommittee. He was previously the top Republican on the subcommittee handling railroads, pipelines and hazardous materials.
The congressman’s pitch centers on a five-point plan. America MOVES addresses mobility through effective transportation investments, opportunities to expand infrastructure investments, vision on impactful public policy, efficacy in prioritizing projects, and security improvements addressing physical and cybersecurity threats.
While speaking Wednesday to reporters, Crawford noted the committee has a reputation on Capitol Hill for its “bipartisan approach to things,” which he plans to continue if named as the next top Republican. For instance, the committee overwhelmingly voted last May in support of legislation reauthorizing federal aviation and airspace programs.
Crawford has fostered some notable bipartisan relationships during his tenure on Capitol Hill. He and North Carolina Democrat Don Davis lead a House Agriculture Committee working group addressing faults in the federal H-2A program, which agricultural producers utilize in hiring temporary foreign workers.
“I think that’s important for any chairman to be able to cultivate those relationships and turn that into something productive,” Crawford said. “I can’t think of a time that I had any cross words with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, so that potential for a good working relationship exists and will continue.”
One of the committee’s biggest issues in the next Congress will involve reauthorizing surface transportation programs and the Highway Trust Fund, a federal ac- count funding local and state road projects.
The program’s solvency has been in question because of declining tax revenues. Lawmakers could consider multiple actions to support this account, including a possible increase of the federal gas tax, implementing new taxes or transferring money from the Treasury Department’s general fund.
“It’s unsustainable in its current form,” he said. “What do we have to do to get it to the point where it actually meets the economic needs and economic demands of modern infrastructure?”
If the Republican Steering Committee selects Crawford as the committee’s top Republican, it would increase Arkansas’ sway on Capitol Hill. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., serves as the ranking member on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, and Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., is the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. Westerman, of Hot Springs, serves alongside Crawford on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., is a senior appropriator on the House Appropriations Committee with his political resume including time as chairman of the House Budget Committee.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has expressed interest in serving as the Senate Republicans’ conference chair during the next Congress. Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., is vice chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and could become the top Republican with North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry’s pending retirement.
“I think Arkansas punches above its weight,” Crawford said. “It’s a very cohesive unit, if you will, and I think that’s probably why you’re seeing this emerge at this time.”
Crawford’s committee aspirations will depend on the current chairman’s future. Graves is set to leave his position at the end of the current Congress as House Republican Conference rules include limits on the number of terms as chairman or ranking member.
Yet Graves intends to file a petition to serve a fourth term as the committee’s top Republican. The Republican Steering Committee — which is responsible for making recommendations regarding committee membership and leaders — could approve Graves’ petition and allow the Missourian to run.
The Republican Steering Committee consists of top Republican leaders and lawmakers picked to represent geographic regions and seniority.
A spokesperson with Graves’ committee team did not have a comment regarding Crawford’s announcement. Crawford spoke highly of Graves, describing his colleague as a mentor and a friend. According to the Arkansan, the two lawmakers discussed Crawford’s succession plans “years ago.”
“I don’t think there were any promises made,” he said. “If he wants to pursue a waiver, he’s free to do that.”
Crawford added he spoke to House Republican leaders about the committee opportunity, acknowledging the Republican Steering Committee will have the final say on allowing Graves to serve another term as the top Republican.
“This is kind of like whenever you’ve got two individuals trying out for starting quarterback,” Crawford said. “There’s competition there, but we’re all on the same team at the end of the day.”
Graves and Crawford will remain in their respective spots through at least the rest of this year.
The committee’s goals for this Congress include a long-term reauthorization of federal aviation programs. Lawmakers are also eyeing an updated version of the Water Resources Development Act approving U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and water research efforts.