WASHINGTON — Transportation officials representing trucking, rail and seaports took aim at priorities touted by Democrats over the past two years — including the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — at the opening hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday.
They took their cue from the committee’s Republicans, who now lead the 65-member panel after Republicans took control of the House in January.
“Although I did not support the IIJA, I accept that it is the law of the land,” House T&I Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., stated in his opening remarks. “What we have to do is make sure Congress and this committee ensure the money from IIJA is spent responsibly and is directed toward making our nation’s transportation supply chain more efficient and resilient. We owe it to the American people to do just that.”
Inflation was a major theme of the four-hour hearing, and Republicans were eager for anecdotes from industry supporting the view that IIJA’s high price tag is at the heart of the problem.
In addition to the cost of a new truck, “the price of fuel is still a huge headwind, especially for small companies and owner-operators,” testified American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear.
Testifying on behalf of Associated General Contractors of America, Jeff Firth, vice president of Oregon-based Hamilton Construction, said that inflation was having the biggest effect on transportation fuel prices. “...
Published on April 28, 2026 In a determined effort to protect the reputation of one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations, Kenya’s Tourism Regulatory Authority has strongly denied false cl...