Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri) received a waiver from the Republican Steering Committee to enable his return as chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. Graves had bumped up against Republican term limits on committee leadership roles but he asked for the waiver, noting that most of his time at the helm was as a ranking minority member rather than in the chair position.

He is returning to the post as the committee faces its next major bill, surface transportation reauthorization, having just completed the comprehensive five-year FAA reauthorization package this past year.

“I am honored and humbled to be selected by my Steering Committee colleagues to serve as Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman for the 119th Congress,” Graves said. “Over the last two years, our committee has worked hard to pass a number of major infrastructure bills, including the FAA Reauthorization Act and the Water Resources Development Act, and we have a golden opportunity to do much more in the next Congress.” He outlined plans to “hit the ground running” in 2025 on infrastructure priorities.

Graves returns alongside Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington), who is expected to remain the ranking Democrat on the committee. The two leaders worked collaboratively on FAA reauthorization, agreeing to put aside any measures that could become a stumbling block to the bill.

A pilot, Graves was the force behind the first-ever title on general aviation in an FAA reauthorization bill, expressing a desire to elevate the sector's importance both in the aviation realm, as well as on a national stage.

“Rep. Graves understands the importance of American aviation as the gold standard globally and works tirelessly to ensure the U.S. remains the world’s aviation leader,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “Equally important, he knows firsthand the critical role general aviation plays in the nation’s economy and transportation system, especially in towns with little or no airline service.”

“NATA is thrilled to congratulate Chairman Sam Graves on his selection to lead the Transportation and Infrastructure,” added NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna. “Chairman Graves’ expertise as an aviator and policy maker, his commitment to bipartisan cooperation, and his reputation as a strong leader make him uniquely suited for the T&I Committee gavel in the coming Congress—and were largely responsible for the successful passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.”

While the leadership of the full T&I committee remains unchanged, the aviation subcommittee will see turnover with the retirement of the chair this year, Garett Graves (R-Louisiana). Currently, Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Indiana) is the vice chair of the subcommittee, and Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee) is the ranking Democrat.

In the Senate, Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are anticipated to return to their posts at the helm of the Commerce Committee but with Cruze as chair and Cantwell in the ranking position with the change in power after the November elections. As for the aviation subcommittee in that chamber, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) is poised to shift from ranking Republican to chair, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) conversely would be in line to take the ranking position after serving as chair in the current Congress.