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Governor Kelly Armstrong testified before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday, July 16, pushing for robust transportation infrastructure funding and regulatory reform.
Speaking on behalf of the National Governors Association, Armstrong said that transportation infrastructure serves as a lifeline for rural states like North Dakota, connecting agricultural producers, energy industries, and families to essential services.
The governor requested that adequate funding continue, along with a streamlined permitting process to limit project delays and costs. He specifically advocated for formula-based funding to help states with short construction seasons deliver projects more efficiently.
Armstrong warned that “all the money in the world means nothing if it can’t be deployed because of a broken permitting system.” He argued the current regulatory framework is conducive to excessive delays, escalating costs, and uncertainty that discourages private investors, while reducing the effectiveness of federal investment.
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