Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito chaired a hearing on the development of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Capito outlined her vision for the bill and emphasized her intent to collaborate with the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation. This hearing marked the first session of a two-part series dedicated to this legislative effort.

In her opening remarks, Capito stated, “Thank you for joining us this morning as we begin our work to develop the next Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. This hearing is the first of a two-part series that we are having to help us guide our work, and I really want to thank Secretary Duffy for being here with us today.”

Capito emphasized the importance of the transportation network, linking it to job creation and economic competitiveness. "Our roads and bridges are what connect us to the people and places that matter most in our lives. They help American businesses, large and small, create jobs and economic opportunities, and enable that competitiveness in the global marketplace," she said.

Highlighting specific projects in her home state of West Virginia, Capito mentioned, "My home state of West Virginia is pursuing important projects, like the Coalfields Expressway." She emphasized the importance of federal funding and policies in advancing such projects.

Capito presented three key principles for the next bill. The first principle focuses on optimizing federal funding's impact to improve the transportation network's safety and reliability. "As we craft the next Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill we must make investments that instead, optimize the impact of federal funding," she remarked.

The second principle stresses the need for reform and modernization to enhance federal programs' efficiency. Capito outlined this by stating, "We all know that as currently structured, federal requirements can add red-tape that increases costs and time, and slows down the completion of projects."

The third principle addresses the diverse transportation needs across states by avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Capito noted, "By avoiding top-down mandates from Washington, and giving states flexibility to address the individual improvements, I think that is what we need to be looking at."

The Senator urged cooperation, stating, "It will take collaboration from my Senate colleagues, our stakeholders, and the Trump administration in order to complete the bill before the IIJA expires in September of 2026."

Expressing appreciation for DOT Secretary Sean Duffy's participation, Capito added, "I am grateful to Secretary Sean Duffy, who is here to share the Trump administration’s priorities for this legislation."

Capito highlighted the opportunity to significantly impact the surface transportation network, emphasizing its economic importance. “This is an excellent opportunity ahead of us to make a pivotal impact in our surface transportation network,” she concluded.