Peace Garden News

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing focused on the development of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who chairs the EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, introduced North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong as the first witness.

Cramer highlighted Armstrong’s background, stating, “What’s interesting to me about Governor Armstrong is he's not naturally a politician at all,” adding, “In fact, he’s quite naturally the opposite. […] But Governor Armstrong brings that perspective, and as I look forward to hearing from the mayor, I think for all of us up here, it’s really, really important to remember that there’s probably no better illustration of the juxtaposition of the relationship between the federal government, local and state governments than in infrastructure.”

He continued by emphasizing Armstrong's experience representing a rural state with significant production capacity: “Kelly brings that very important perspective from a rural state that produces a lot of things that we don’t consume in our own state, or at least we don’t consume nearly in the supply that we provide to a hungry world and a growing economy,” said Cramer. “Whether it’s energy or food or how you get durum wheat to turn into semolina flour to get it to a pasta plant, to get it to the restaurant in New York. He understands it all, and he understands the relationship. I’m really grateful he’s here.”

During his remarks, Cramer discussed maintaining highway funding through set formulas under laws such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He argued this approach provides states with consistent resources and flexibility.

Cramer addressed challenges facing transportation infrastructure funding. He explained that while drivers contribute to the Highway Trust Fund via federal gas taxes—a system based on user payments—current revenues are insufficient for national needs. With more electric and hybrid vehicles using roads but paying less into these funds due to lower or no fuel consumption, Cramer asked witnesses for ideas on increasing revenue for road maintenance.

He noted many states impose registration fees on electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids so they also contribute financially but pointed out there is no similar mechanism at the federal level.

“Every car, combustion or otherwise, is driving a lot more on that 18.3 cents that is being taken in,” said Cramer. “And I think as you get more and more other vehicles on the road, there is going to be a disparity there. […] I think whatever four-tired vehicle that ends up on the road is going to utilize that road and is going to require maintenance and upkeep and all of those things.”

Cramer stressed his commitment: “It's important to me that we adequately fund the National Highway Trust Fund,” he said. “We would like to make sure it’s adequate funding, we want to protect privacy, any new solution, we think technology needs to be ready to go on day one. This is so essential we have to get it right.”

To close his questioning period, Cramer asked witnesses for recommendations on expediting infrastructure project delivery.

“You know, this is a really complicated topic, but I actually think the solutions are pretty simple,” he said. “We need deadlines in the regulatory process that are enforceable, and we need limited expedited judicial review. I think if we do those two things we'll actually get infrastructure dollars from being approved and allocated to actually being spent and invested in new projects.”

He added: “I think you all have a unique opportunity because a lot of the fights that are associated with infrastructure reform don’t apply to roads but try getting a bridge permitted across the federal waterway,” continuing: “And we’re not building new ones; we’re replacing existing ones. But every one of our constituents wants this kind of infrastructure and you don’t get into some of the ideological fights that exist in transmission or pipelines.”