Washington, DC – North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on Wednesday. In a hearing titled “Constructing the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill: Stakeholders’ Perspectives,” Governor Armstrong, on behalf of the National Governors Association, urged policymakers to maintain robust funding, ensure flexibility for states, and take action to ensure efficiency, certainty and transparency in the permitting process.
As a member of the National Governors Association (NGA) Economic Development and Revitalization Task Force, Governor Armstrong shared a number of bipartisan priorities that are essential to safety, economic growth and national security. Excerpts from his testimony follow.
“In rural states like ours, transportation infrastructure isn’t merely about convenience – it’s a pillar of our communities and thriving local economies. Our highways, roads and bridges are essential lifelines connecting our agricultural producers, energy industry, small businesses and families to markets, healthcare, education and emergency services.
“My request of this Committee today is simple: continue providing robust funding, give maximum flexibility to states and watch us go to work. A key piece of ensuring states can successfully and efficiently build projects is formula-based funding. The next highway bill should maintain or increase the percentage of program dollars distributed by formula, allowing states to more quickly deliver critical transportation projects.
“Robust funding is important, but all the money in the world means nothing if it can’t be deployed because of a broken permitting system. I urge this Committee and your colleagues to use surface transportation reauthorization to enact bipartisan permitting reform. Our current regulatory framework imposes excessive delays and escalating costs, and injects uncertainty into critical infrastructure projects. It also discourages private sector investment, while making federal investment less effective and efficient.
“This Committee, along with your House colleagues, have a real opportunity to ensure efficiency, certainty and transparency in the permitting process, all while protecting our environment.”
In a June letter to congressional leadership, NGA’s Economic Development and Revitalization Task Force members outlined bipartisan priorities for Surface Transportation Reauthorization.
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