Central ND News

Gov. Kelly Armstrong testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, advocating for continued strong funding for transportation infrastructure. He emphasized the need for flexibility for states and streamlining of permitting processes to minimize project delays and costs.

Armstrong expressed gratitude to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the committee chair, and Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota for inviting him to share a state's perspective during a hearing titled “Constructing the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill: Stakeholders’ Perspectives.”

“In rural states like ours, transportation infrastructure isn’t merely about convenience – it’s a pillar of our communities and thriving local economies,” Armstrong stated on behalf of the National Governors Association. He highlighted the importance of highways, roads, and bridges in connecting agricultural producers, energy industries, small businesses, and families to essential services.

Armstrong urged the committee to continue providing robust funding with maximum flexibility for states. He stressed that formula-based funding is crucial for efficiently building projects, especially in states like North Dakota with shorter construction seasons.

He also called for bipartisan permitting reform through surface transportation reauthorization to streamline processes. “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,” Armstrong noted in his written testimony.

Having served six years as North Dakota’s lone member of Congress before becoming governor last November, Armstrong pointed out that there is an opportunity to ensure efficiency and transparency in permitting while protecting the environment.