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Congressman Garret Graves

WASHINGTON��— Careful investments in infrastructure projects help governments at all levels improve productivity that generate economic growth, Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) said on a panel May 17.

Graves, who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, stressed that a “major problem in this country and in this Congress” is the idea that funding infrastructure programs is irresponsible spending.

Graves then added that the “right spending criteria, decision criteria, in place, you actually save money or generate economic activity by making the right investments.”

INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK COVERAGE: Via TT's Capitol Agenda

While backing large-scale infrastructure projects had garnered bipartisan support for many decades, a bloc of conservative lawmakers on Capitol Hill have pushed back on funding such projects in recent years.

Graves was speaking here on a panel hosted by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers for Infrastructure Week. The panel included Kansas City Mayor Sly James.

“As one of the U.S. Department of Transportation's ‘Smart Cities’ finalists, we’ve sought in Kansas City to adopt a forward-looking approach to our infrastructure,” said James, who lamented that there are policymakers who rank infrastructure needs last on their list of priorities.

A Northwestern University Transportation Center study on the future needs of the country’s transportation infrastructure, commissioned by AEM, will be unveiled at a symposium in Evanston, Illinois, on May 23.