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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), a senior Republican member of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was named today as one of the House negotiators with the Senate on legislation authorizing hundreds of billions of dollars for the Defense Department.
A number of provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 (H.R. 1585) fall within the jurisdiction of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including important aviation safety provisions and provisions to provide war risk insurance coverage for acts of terrorism against commercial airlines.
Graves was appointed by the Republican Leadership of the House to represent the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the conference negotiations.
“I’m honored to be representing my colleagues from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,” said Graves. “We have the best military in the world. I want to make sure that we are giving them everything they need to complete their mission.”
“Sam is a hard-working, insightful Member of Congress. I trust him to capably represent his colleagues and the interests of the largest committee in the Congress,” said U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL), Republican Leader of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Among the provisions under the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s jurisdiction, H.R. 1585 includes an extension of war risk insurance coverage. Provided by the U.S. Government, war risk insurance covers damages to commercial airlines and their passengers caused by acts of war, hijackings and terrorism. Such insurance has become particularly important to maintaining aviation service in the United States in a post-9/11 environment.
Another provision in the legislation provides much needed clarity with respect to safety oversight responsibility of aircraft during certain operations such as the contracting of private airplanes for use in Army airborne jump-training.
Graves is the top Republican on the Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee, as well as a senior member of the Aviation Subcommittee and the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.
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