Sen. Cramer Advocates for ‘Going Big’ on Infrastructure Package, Joins ND DOT Director in Urging Congress to Meet Rural America's Transportation Needs

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, delivered opening remarks advocating for the transportation infrastructure needs of North Dakota in a hearing on equity in transportation today.

“It is my hope we can continue the trend by crafting a reauthorization bill that meets the priorities of North Dakotans,” said Senator Cramer. “Despite geographic and political differences, all our constituents understand the importance of roads, bridges, and waterways; and the role they play in fostering economic development and interstate commerce.”

The hearing centered on the Reconnecting Communities Act, which would take $15 billion from the Highway Trust Fund to establish a new discretionary grant awarded by the Department of Transportation rather than the traditional funding formula, which provides each state with guaranteed funding and flexibility to meet their specific needs. These grant programs largely benefit highly populated states and urban areas and, in some cases, North Dakota has been completely shut out of certain funding.

“I’ve always advocated for ‘going big’ in this infrastructure package. Last Congress we all supported the passage of the largest highway bill in history, and I have no problem breaking that record again … but how it’s dispersed is key,” said Senator Cramer. “If you put the issue of equity in a rural context, those communities are not struggling with obtrusive infrastructure that gets in the way, they’re dealing with a lack of infrastructure connectivity. … HR 2 and the Reconnecting Communities Act both limit new capacity or new miles being added to the system, effectively shutting out rural and tribal communities who need new access, not less.”

Senator Cramer praised Subcommittee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD) and EPW leaders, Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), for their work to advance this effort in a collaborative, bipartisan fashion.

“If Carper, Capito, Cardin and Cramer can’t solve this problem, nobody in the alphabet can,” said Senator Cramer as he began his comments.

Read his opening remarks as delivered here.

After his opening remarks, Senator Cramer introduced North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) Director Bill Panos, who testified at the hearing on behalf of five states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. The senator then used his questioning time to speak with Director Panos about the transportation needs of rural America and the harmful impact to these communities when resources are allocated through discretionary grants instead of the regular funding formula. 

“You said in your testimony rural disadvantaged communities are often simply looking to get connected in the first place, as opposed to many urban examples that are looking to reconnect,” said Senator Cramer. “Can you briefly explain the distinction and why it is important in rural areas like North Dakota? But at the same time, I’m going to ask you to comment specifically on the Reconnecting Communities Act as it’s being discussed today as a potential solution to some of these inequities.”

Director Panos, who previously served as Wyoming Transportation Director, began his remarks by speaking on the importance of roads in rural America and noted he could not think of a project in North Dakota or Wyoming which would qualify to receive funds proposed under the Reconnecting Communities Act. He responded to the senator’s question by focusing on the difference better rural transportation can make for residents and agricultural producers in rural states like North Dakota.   

“What many metro areas would call long distances are frequently involved in day-to-day travel here in rural states. Improved and safer roads can mean a connection to a job or other essentials in a less unreasonable timeframe. Improved roads help farmers get our crops to the grain elevators more efficiently and safely,” said Director Panos. “For us, it’s about reconnecting these communities and, in some cases, connecting them, so they can participate in a normal daily life and a normal daily economy. It’s particularly true when we talk about the length between our transportation and our agriculture economy, our energy economy, and our tourism economy here in North Dakota.”

Since joining the Senate in 2019, Senator Cramer and Director Panos have been working together to ensure transportation infrastructure legislation meets the needs of North Dakota. Last year, Senator Cramer worked with the director to help secure over $62 million for NDDOT as part of the December COVID-19 relief package. That funding was allocated through the same formula they are now urging Congress to continue using so each state benefits from federal investments.