{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-introduces-starter-act-20-investment-roads-bridges-transit-and-highway", "Graves Introduces the STARTER Act 2.0 \u2013 an Investment in Roads, Bridges, Transit, and Highway Safety", "2021-05-19", "2021", "2021-05", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", "graves", "https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) and other Republican Committee leaders today introduced a long-term surface transportation reauthorization bill that provides historic levels of investment in America's roads, bridges, and core infrastructure to meet the Nation's growing transportation needs.\n\nThe Surface Transportation Advanced through Reform, Technology, & Efficient Review (STARTER) Act 2.0 provides more than $400 billion over five years \u2013 the largest percentage increase for these programs in the last quarter-century \u2013 for the federal highway, transit, and motor carrier and highway safety programs.\n\nReforms in the bill will also cut red tape to get meaningful transportation improvements completed in a timely manner, making federal investment go farther by actually getting projects done with fewer delays. The legislation lays out key Republican principles for a much-needed bipartisan agreement to authorize these programs before October, and it's based upon similar legislation introduced last year with input from Committee and House Members, the transportation community, and others.\n\n\"I strongly believe that the path to improving America's infrastructure is through partnership \u2013 not partisanship. Republicans want to work together on bipartisan infrastructure solutions, but in order to reach that goal, key principles must be addressed in this process,\" said Graves. \"The STARTER Act 2.0 puts forward our Republican principles; provides historic levels of funding for our roads, bridges, and other surface transportation infrastructure; and ensures that we invest those funds wisely and efficiently.\n\nGraves continued, \"Our bill focuses on the core infrastructure that helps move people and goods through our communities every single day, cuts red tape that holds up project construction, and gets resources into the hands of our states and locals with as few strings attached as possible. As the process for considering legislation on infrastructure moves forward, I am eager to see these proposals become part of a robust bipartisan effort \u2013 just as the President continues to call for.\"\n\nThe STARTER Act 2.0:\n\nAuthorizes over $400 billion over five years \u2013 the largest percentage increase for surface transportation programs in the last quarter-century.\n\nPrioritizes proven programs that address core infrastructure functions \u2013 by improving our core system of highways and bridges, facilitating commerce, and focusing on safety and efficiency.\n\nStreamlines project delivery \u2013 by cutting red tape to reduce project delays and costs, putting federal dollars to work faster to improve our transportation system.\n\nMeets rural America's infrastructure needs \u2013 by investing in small and rural communities, where 71% of public road mileage runs.\n\nEnsures flexibility for states and non-federal partners \u2013 by giving states more decision-making authority to meet their own unique infrastructure needs.\n\nFosters transportation innovation and technology \u2013 helping to improve transportation efficiency, safety, resiliency, and the environment.\n\nWorks to sustain the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) \u2013 by recognizing that continued reliance on fuel taxes is not a long-term solution to HTF solvency.\n\nSupports building more resilient infrastructure \u2013 because every $1 invested in mitigation and resiliency saves $4 to $11, reduces risk, and saves lives.\n\nClick here for the legislative text of the STARTER Act.\n\nClick here for a section-by-section summary of the STARTER Act.\n\nIn addition to today's introduction of the STARTER Act, Graves also introduced legislation last week to expand rural broadband and invest in clean water infrastructure.\n\nClick herefor more information about the Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility (E-BRIDGE) Act.\n\nClick here for more information about the Wastewater Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2021.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:49:40Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/graves-introduces-starter-act-20-investment-roads-bridges-transit-and-highway"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9288960136473179, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}