Transportation & Infrastructure

Virginia’s First District faces transportation challenges as varied as the communities I represent. From congestion in Chesterfield and Henrico to the heavily traveled I-64 corridor, aging rural bridges, and sediment-filled waterways across the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, reliable infrastructure is essential to public safety, economic growth, and quality of life.

My experience as a town council member, mayor of Montross, chairman of the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors, and member of the Virginia General Assembly taught me that transportation challenges are best addressed through collaboration among local, state, and federal leaders. Washington should not impose one-size-fits-all mandates. The federal government should provide stable support, reduce unnecessary permitting delays, and give states and localities the flexibility to prioritize the projects their communities need most.

I have worked for years to advance the replacement of the Robert O. Norris Jr. Bridge, which serves as a critical connection between Lancaster and Middlesex counties. Through roundtables, letters, and sustained coordination with state and local officials, we have made significant progress, and construction is now scheduled to begin in 2028—eight years earlier than previously planned. I have also advocated for widening I-64 through New Kent, secured Community Project Funding for the Powhite Parkway Extension Phase II in Chesterfield County, and supported investments in rural roads, bridges, waterways, and public-access infrastructure.

The Port of Virginia is another vital part of our transportation network, supporting commerce, supply chains, military readiness, and jobs throughout the Commonwealth. I helped secure the Norfolk Harbor and Channels Project’s New Start designation, which allowed construction to begin on deepening and widening the harbor. Completing this work will improve safety and efficiency for larger commercial and military vessels moving through Hampton Roads.

We must move beyond repeatedly repairing failing infrastructure and invest in a transportation system prepared for the future. I will continue supporting projects that improve safety, reduce congestion, strengthen rural communities, leverage public-private partnerships, use innovative technology, and ensure taxpayer dollars are directed toward genuine infrastructure needs.

Legislative Work

• Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act of 2025 (H.R. 1808) — Bipartisan legislation that would establish grant and loan programs to preserve working waterfronts, strengthen water-dependent businesses, improve public access, and allow coastal communities to determine which local projects are most important.
• Long Bridge Act of 2020 (H.R. 7489) — Authored legislation enacted through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 that authorized the transfer of federal land necessary to advance a new passenger-rail bridge across the Potomac River, expand commuter-rail capacity, reduce congestion, and improve freight movement.
• STARTER Act 2.0 (H.R. 3341) — Original cosponsor of legislation proposing long-term investments in roads and bridges, streamlined project delivery, greater flexibility for states, dedicated attention to rural infrastructure, and reforms intended to reduce project delays and costs.