Transportation & Infrastructure Hearing and

A Trip to Our Southern Border

This week, I participated in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing with the Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, on “Implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.” I pressed Secretary Buttigieg on challenges inflation poses to contractors, deterring them from bidding on infrastructure projects due to the risk that raw materials costs could rise substantially from the date of bid submission to the date they are able to purchase materials and begin construction.

Inflation is wreaking havoc on our economy, and it’s destroying transportation businesses, which includes the small suppliers and disadvantaged businesses that work in that space. Companies just can’t afford this inflation and shoulder that risk. But what’s worse is that it’s creating a vacuum in the marketplace that could allow for foreign companies to come in and further decimate U.S. industries and the U.S. economy. I asked Secretary Buttigieg if the Department of Transportation can provide guidance to states and other recipients that inflation adjustments are required in transportation contracts.

Secretary Buttigieg argued that Germany is also experiencing inflation, and German companies are looking at the same inflation rates the U.S. is. But I’m much less concerned about a German company than a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) which are subsidized at a much higher rate than any of their competitors. These subsidies allow foreign competitors to undercut the bids of American contractors. They do that to disrupt our economy and to jeopardize our national security. My goal is to make sure we’re not creating an opportunity for Chinese SOEs to come in and occupy space that should be occupied by U.S. businesses.

Runaway inflation harms not just families shopping for food or filling their gas tank. It also causes state and local governments to pick up the tab for project shortfalls as federal funds run dry or pushes the costs onto private contractors who must pay out of pocket to complete a project that costs significantly more than when they submitted their bid. I met with road and transportation builders last week to discuss the rising costs of materials that have made project expense predictions unreliable. I remain focused on ways to reduce inflation, improve contract provisions to protect contractors from the “inflation tax” disrupting their businesses, and enhance the efficiency of the processes used to deliver federal funding to local communities to expedite the commencement of infrastructure projects.

Full remarks from the hearing can be found here.

This week, I also visited El Paso, Texas to assess the threats at our southern border. Border agents and other officials confirmed that President Biden’s open border policies are problematic. He has put our national security at risk by refusing to enforce our laws, and Americans are less safe as a result. Violent criminals, gang members, sex traffickers, and others who wish to do us harm are among the roughly two million who have sought illegal entry into our nation in the last year. We need to end these harmful policies immediately.

H.R. 8404 – Disrespect for Marriage Act – No

Perpetuates the belief that our courts can’t be trusted and somehow all previous rulings are under the threat of being overturned.
Is redundant – marriage between interracial and same-sex couples is already legal and has been for years.
Fully funds the National Guard’s operation and maintenance account to support a border deployment.

H.R. 8294 – Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations FY 2023 – No

Would exacerbate climbing inflation by adding more unneeded government spending.
Limits gas and oil activities and increases inspection fees for companies which will ultimately be passed down to the consumer.
Prohibits immigration checks on residents of HUD-assisted housing.

H.R. 8373 – Payouts for Planned Parenthood Act – No

Perpetuates the belief that our courts can’t be trusted and somehow all previous rulings are under the threat of being overturned.
Goes beyond current law and funnels state and federal funds to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood by prohibiting state and federal governments from limiting funding to any entity that provides birth control.
Has vague language which could create expanded protections for chemical abortifacient drugs.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Buttigieg gets a grilling on inflation

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford on Tuesday pressed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on how his department is addressing inflation as the Biden administration implements its wide-ranging infrastructure bill.

During a hearing before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Republican from Jonesboro pointed to high inflation nationwide, saying the trend is wreaking "havoc" on the economy and destroying transportation businesses, including small suppliers.

Fox News

Intel Republicans warn of 'astronomical' threats, terrorist surge across 'porous' border while in El Paso

Republicans on the House Select Committee on Intelligence are raising the alarm about "grave" national security threats facing Americans due to the destabilized southern border.

"I talked with a couple individual agents and all of them have encountered this taking place. Young girls being sexually abused. They are a commodity to the cartels, they are a renewable resource. Every bit is valuable, if not more than the drugs that they are trafficking. So, the idea that somehow this border is somehow secure, I don't think those folks believe that the border is secure," said Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark.