Sam Graves
Sam Graves | |
---|---|
Chair of the House Transportation Committee | |
Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Peter DeFazio |
Ranking Member of the House Transportation Committee | |
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Peter DeFazio |
Succeeded by | Rick Larsen |
Chair of the House Small Business Committee | |
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Nydia Velázquez |
Succeeded by | Steve Chabot |
Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee | |
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 | |
Preceded by | Steve Chabot |
Succeeded by | Nydia Velázquez |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 6th district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2001 | |
Preceded by | Pat Danner |
Member of the Missouri Senate from the 12th district | |
In office January 4, 1995 – January 3, 2001 | |
Preceded by | Glen Klippenstein |
Succeeded by | David Klindt |
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 4th district | |
In office January 6, 1993 – January 4, 1995 | |
Preceded by | Phil Tate |
Succeeded by | Rex Barnett |
Personal details | |
Born | Samuel Bruce Graves Jr. November 7, 1963 Tarkio, Missouri, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Lesley Hickok (m. 1986–2012) |
Children | 3 |
Relatives | Todd Graves (brother) |
Education | University of Missouri (BS) |
Website | House website |
Samuel Bruce Graves Jr. (born November 7, 1963) is an American aviator and politician best known for serving in the U.S. House of Representatives for Missouri's 6th congressional district, with him being the dean of Missouri's congressional delegation and having held office since 2001. The aforementioned district stretches across most of the northern third of the state, with it including territory from the Kansas border to the Illinois border. The bulk of its population lives in the northern part of the Kansas City area.
Graves is a member of the Republican Party. He has notably served as the Chair leading the influential Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for multiple years, with him being able to exceed the term limits normally enforced by senior Republican figures.[1]
Early life, education, and career
[edit]Graves is a lifelong resident of Tarkio, a small city in Missouri's northwestern corner, not far from the Iowa and Nebraska borders.[2] He is the son of Janice A. (née Hord) and Samuel Bruce Graves. He graduated from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture with a degree in agronomy.[2] He is a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Graves is a general aviation pilot. He owns a Piper PA-11 Cub Special, is restoring a Beech AT-10, and co-owns a North American T-6 Texan and a Vultee BT-13 Valiant. Gould Peterson Municipal Airport is named after his uncle, an aviator, and is on his family's farm.[4][5][6] Graves is a Baptist.[7]
Missouri legislature
[edit]Graves was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1992.[8] After one term, he was elected to the Missouri Senate in 1994 and reelected in 1998.[2]
U.S. House of Representatives
[edit]Committee assignments
[edit]- Committee on Armed Services
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Chair)
- As Chair of the Committee, Rep. Graves is entitled to sit as an ex officio member in any subcommittee meeting per the committee's rules.
Caucus memberships
[edit]- Congressional Cement Caucus
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption[9]
Political positions
[edit]Financial bailouts
[edit]After the September 2008 economic crisis, Graves voted against the proposed bailout of United States financial system, claiming it "neither 'punished the wrongdoers nor adequately protected the innocent taxpayers, investors and retirees' caught in the Wall Street banking crisis."[10] In January 2014, Graves introduced the TRICARE Family Improvement Act. The bill would allow dependents of military members to stay on their parents' TRICARE health plan after turning age 26. The bill would change current law, which requires those dependents to change to a separate health plan after turning 26.[11] The American Conservative Union gave him an 85% evaluation in 2017. As of 2019, Graves has a 4% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters.[12]
Israel
[edit]Graves voted to support Israel following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[13][14]
Todd Graves controversy
[edit]Graves is the brother of Todd Graves, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.[15] In October 2008, U.S. Senator Kit Bond apologized to Todd Graves after a U.S. Justice Department report cited Bond forcing Graves out over a disagreement with Representative Graves.[15] Following the report, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey appointed a special prosecutor to investigate whether former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other officials involved in the firings of nine U.S. attorneys broke the law (dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy).[16]
Ethics investigation
[edit]In 2009, the House Ethics Committee began an inquiry into whether Graves used his position on the Small Business Committee to invite Brooks Hurst, a longtime friend and a business partner of his wife, to testify at a committee hearing on the federal regulation of biodiesel and ethanol production. Graves had failed to mention the financial link between his wife and Hurst at the hearing, which dealt with federal subsidies for renewable fuels. A review by the independent Office of Congressional Ethics found "substantial reason to believe that an appearance of conflict of interest was created."[17] Graves said in a statement, "I look forward to a quick review of the facts and answering any questions that the committee may have. I believe that a speedy review will show that all the rules of the House concerning testimony in front of the Small Business Committee were followed."[18] The Office of Congressional Ethics referred the case to the House Ethics committee, which ended its own investigation in October, and released a report finding no ethical violations, as it asserted there was no standard in place for appearances like Hurst's.[19][20]
Political campaigns
[edit]Before his congressional career, Graves served eight years in the Missouri General Assembly, winning election to the Missouri House of Representatives once, and to the Missouri Senate twice.
In 2000, Democratic U.S. Representative Pat Danner suddenly retired due to breast cancer. Graves filed within the short period of time left for filing. He faced Danner's son, Steve Danner, a former state senator, in the general election. Graves called Danner as a "tax and spend liberal" and won the race with 51% of the vote,[21] largely by running up huge margins in the district's rural areas. He was arguably helped by George W. Bush carrying the district in the 2000 presidential election, a theory known as the coattail effect.[citation needed]
1992
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 7,837 | 56.48% | |
Democratic | Everett W. Brown | 6,038 | 43.52% | |
Total votes | 13,875 | 100% |
1994
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 35,221 | 60.61% | |
Democratic | Doug R. Hughes | 22,888 | 39.31% | |
Total votes | 58,109 | 100% |
1998
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 31,883 | 62.69% | |
Democratic | Beth M. Wheeler | 18,974 | 37.31% | |
Total votes | 50,857 | 100% |
2000
[edit]Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Sam Graves | 30,014 | 68.05 | |
Republican | Teresa Anne Loar | 7,493 | 16.99 | |
Republican | Jeff Bailey | 4,575 | 10.37 | |
Republican | John Dady | 1,122 | 2.54 | |
Republican | Jack C. DeSalms | 901 | 2.04 | |
Total votes | 44,105 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Republican | Sam Graves | 138,925 | 50.85 | |
Democratic | Steve Danner | 127,792 | 46.78 | |
Libertarian | Jimmy Dykes | 3,696 | 1.35 | |
Natural Law | Marie Richey | 2,788 | 1.02 | |
Total votes | 273,201 | 100 |
2002
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 131,151 | 63.03 | |
Democratic | Cathy Rinehart | 73,202 | 35.18 | |
Libertarian | Erik Buck | 3,735 | 1.79 | |
Total votes | 208,088 | 100 |
2004
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 196,516 | 63.83 | |
Democratic | Charles S. Broomfield | 106,987 | 34.75 | |
Libertarian | Erik Buck | 4,352 | 1.41 | |
Total votes | 307,855 | 100 |
2006
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 150,882 | 61.64 | |
Democratic | Sara Jo Shettles | 87,477 | 35.73 | |
Libertarian | Erik Buck | 4,757 | 1.94 | |
Progressive Party | Shirley A. Yurkonis | 1,679 | 0.69 | |
Total votes | 244,795 | 100 |
2008
[edit]In 2008, Graves' Democratic challenger was former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes. She was the first reasonably well-financed Democrat to run in the district since Graves' initial run. Graves gained national attention early in the race for running an ad accusing Barnes of promoting "San Francisco values." Despite Barnes' roots in the district (she grew up in St. Joseph and lived in the district's share of Kansas City), Graves was reelected handily, with 59% of the vote to Barnes's 37%.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 196,526 | 59.43 | |
Democratic | Kay Barnes | 121,894 | 36.86 | |
Libertarian | Dave Browning | 12,279 | 3.71 | |
Total votes | 330,699 | 100 |
2010
[edit]Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Sam Graves | 54,566 | 82.46% | |
Republican | Christopher Ryan | 11,608 | 17.53% | |
Total votes | 66,174 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Republican | Sam Graves | 154,103 | 69.44 | |
Democratic | Clint Hylton | 67,762 | 30.54 | |
Write-In | Kyle Yarber | 47 | 0.02 | |
Total votes | 221,912 | 100 |
2012
[edit]Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Sam Graves | 59,388 | 80.33% | |
Republican | Christopher Ryan | 9,945 | 13.45% | |
Republican | Bob Gough | 4,598 | 6.22% | |
Total votes | 73,931 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Republican | Sam Graves | 216,906 | 65.00 | |
Democratic | Kyle Yarber | 108,503 | 32.52 | |
Libertarian | Russ Monchil | 8,279 | 2.48 | |
Total votes | 333,688 | 100 |
2014
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 124,616 | 66.65 | |
Democratic | Bill Hedge | 55,157 | 29.50 | |
Libertarian | Russ Monchil | 7,197 | 3.85 |
2016
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 238,388 | 68.0 | |
Democratic | David Blackwell | 98,588 | 28.4 | |
Libertarian | Russ Monchil | 8,123 | 2.3 | |
Green | Mike Diel | 4,241 | 1.2 |
2018
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 199,796 | 65.4 | |
Democratic | Henry Martin | 97,660 | 32.0 | |
Libertarian | Dan Hogan | 7,953 | 2.6 |
2020
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 258,709 | 67.1 | |
Democratic | Gena Ross | 118,926 | 30.8 | |
Libertarian | Jim Higgins | 8,144 | 2.1 |
2022
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sam Graves | 184,865 | 70.3 | |
Democratic | Henry Martin | 72,253 | 27.5 | |
Libertarian | Edward A (Andy) Maidment | 5,774 | 2.2 |
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.axios.com/2024/12/03/sam-graves-transportation-committee-waiver
- ^ a b c "Meet Sam". Congressman Sam Graves. December 3, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "Greek Political Leaders | North-American Interfraternity Conference". nicindy.org. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "AOPA Q&A with US Rep. Sam Graves". aopa.org. March 6, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ Matthew Murray (November 6, 2007). "Federal Cash Rebuilds Airstrip Near Graves' Land - Roll Call". Roll Call. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ Shiner, Linda (March 2014). "Aviation's Man in Washington". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MO State House 004 Race - Nov 03, 1992". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ "Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute".
- ^ "Graves, Boyda vote against $700B bailout in the U.S. House". The News-Press. September 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Graves proposes changes to military family health coverage" Archived March 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Ripon Advance. 1/31/14. Retrieved 2/7/14.
- ^ "Check out Representative Sam Graves's Environmental Voting Record". February 17, 2021.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Kit Bond apologizes for staff's role in firing of federal prosecutor". The News Leader. September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2007. [dead link ]
- ^ "Prosecutor will investigate firings of nine U.S. Attorneys". The Miami Herald. September 29, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2007.[dead link ]
- ^ [1][dead link ]
- ^ Margasak, Larry (September 16, 2009). "Ethics panel defers probe on Jesse Jackson Jr". Associated Press. Retrieved September 16, 2009.[dead link ]
- ^ Larry Margasak [2] Congressional ethics report leaked, reveals names LARRY MARGASAK, October 30, 2009 Associated Press
- ^ "Campaign Legal Center blog: Fault Ethics Committee, Not OCE". Clcblog.org. November 20, 2009. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ "Missouri Secretary of State". Sos.mo.gov. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
External links
[edit]- Congressman Sam Graves official U.S. House website
- Sam Graves for Congress
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- 1963 births
- 20th-century Missouri politicians
- 21st-century Missouri politicians
- Baptists from Missouri
- Baptists from the United States
- Living people
- Republican Party members of the Missouri House of Representatives
- Republican Party Missouri state senators
- People from Tarkio, Missouri
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri
- University of Missouri alumni
- 21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives
- 20th-century members of the Missouri General Assembly