Pappas Questions Sec. Buttigieg, Secures Commitments to Address NH Infrastructure Needs

On Wednesday, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, participated in a hearing focusing on oversight and implementation of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). During the hearing, Pappas questioned Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on a number of key New Hampshire priorities and secured his commitment to address the needs of our state. 

Pappas highlighted the General Sullivan Bridge replacement project in Dover, as well as other bridge projects in the state, that are experiencing delays through the federal and state permitting process. Pappas shared his frustration over these delays caused by the lack of necessary permits for the General Sullivan Bridge and Neil R. Underwood Bridge projects and the lack of an updated preliminary navigation determination for another bridge project.

During the hearing, Pappas pressed Secretary Buttigieg on the delays and secured his commitment to continue working with the Coast Guard and other federal partners to ensure New Hampshire’s projects can move forward efficiently.

PAPPAS: I'm concerned about delays that we're hearing about for this project and two other bridge projects in New Hampshire. My staff recently met with folks from [the Federal Highway Administration] from the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard to talk about the status of these projects. And I'm grateful that [the Federal Highway Administration] has completed its reviews as the lead agency. But we're waiting on sign-off from other federal and state agencies, which is causing delays in this project. So, this is frustrating to folks in New Hampshire. And I'm wondering if you could talk about what you can do as a department as the lead federal agency for so many of these projects in places like New Hampshire, how do you coordinate with other federal agencies, and do we have your commitment to keep working with Coast Guard and the Army Corps to make sure these bridge projects in New Hampshire can move forward efficiently?

SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG: “The short answer is yes. We are committed to working with any other federal agency just as we work with any project sponsor to try to make sure projects are delivered responsibly and promptly….we're certainly prepared to be at the table and engaging anytime we can informally or formally to help keep things moving.”

Prior to today’s hearing, Pappas’s office has been in touch with the Biden Administration to advocate for these projects to move forward without delays. Pappas also supported bipartisan changes to help streamline the federal project review process as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which will help projects like these move faster.

During the hearing, Pappas also addressed several issues of vital importance to New Hampshire, including equitable highway formula funding for New Hampshire, his Toll Credit Marketplace Act, and efforts to increase active transportation infrastructure in the Granite State.

Click here to watch Pappas’s full questioning of Secretary Buttigieg.