By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former
Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy as his choice to be the next Secretary of
Transportation, choosing Duffy over northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves
and others on a short list.

Graves, the Republican chair of the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says he’s ready to help Duffy if
he wins confirmation as Transportation Secretary.

“Sean’s a friend of mine and I think he will do
fine in the position,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “He’s obviously going
to need some help and I’m ready and willing to jump in if he needs any help at
all.”

Graves had been named by media outlets as one of
the names on a short list of candidates for the next Transportation Secretary.
Graves, in an interview with KFEQ/St. Joseph Post, had disclosed that he had
been in talks with the transition team for the president-elect.

“I am disappointed a little bit, but that’s fine.
That’s the way it works. And it’s the president’s decision,” Graves says. “You
serve at his will and so that’s who he chose and so I support him.”

Graves has served on the House Transportation
Committee since first winning election to Congress in 2000. He worked his way
up to ranking member of the minority, receiving the chairmanship when
Republicans won the majority in the United States House. Republican Caucus
rules would force him to relinquish the chairmanship, but he has made an appeal
to Speaker Mike Johnson to keep the seat, which would retain Graves’ role as a
leader in transportation policy on Capitol Hill.

“There is a chance and that’s something that I’m
continuing to talk to him (Speaker Johnson) and other members of the steering
committee on,” Graves says. “And it’s still a possibility.”

Graves hopes the Trump administration returns the
Department of Transportation to its traditional role.

“The department has got to get away from this
environmental justice and these woke policies and Green New Deal policies and
they need to get back to building; that is traditional infrastructure,”
according to Graves.

Graves says though disappointed he wasn’t chosen,
he was proud to be considered.

“Well, it was a tremendous opportunity and I was
very proud to be considered for the position,” Graves says. “You know, it’s
something that didn’t necessarily work out this time, but I’m willing and ready
to serve if the need arises.”

Duffy faces confirmation from the U.S. Senate.

You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.