Converse County Commissioner Jim Willox testified before the Senate EPW Committee on how to improve the federal highway program for rural states like Wyoming.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced the Chairman of the Converse County Board of Commissioners Jim Willox before the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. Senator Barrasso invited Commissioner Willox to testify on how Washington can make the federal highway program work more efficiently for rural states like Wyoming.

“Jim has a great understanding of the importance of transportation at the county level,” said Barrasso. “As Chairman, Jim is responsible for balancing a large rural Wyoming county budget while also trying to meet the transportation demands of energy production in Converse County.”

During the hearing, Senator Barrasso also stressed how our national highway system is a critical link to rural communities throughout the nation, especially Wyoming.

“These are roads that bring tourists to Wyoming’s spectacular national forests and parks. These are roads that folks travel hours just to get to the next town. The ability to maintain these vital routes are essential to the economy in my state, and to other western states,” said Barrasso. “We need a strong partnership between the Federal Highway Administration and states and counties.”

Converse County Commissioner, Jim Willox, testified about how Washington needs to give rural states like Wyoming more flexibility and fewer rules so local governments face fewer delays and can advance transportation projects more efficiently.

“As you look at federal programs, the success or failure of any federal highway program in Wyoming can be reasonably predicted on one question: does the program provide enough flexibility at the local level,” said Willox. “I respectfully ask that you give further consideration to providing more flexibility and fewer rules so that local governments are not unduly burdened, and so that road and bridge safety projects can proceed promptly and efficiently. This is particularly true in rural areas, where we find ourselves attempting to force the round peg of small rural projects into the largeness of square federal rules.”

In addition to serving as Converse County Commissioner, Mr. Willox is the Chairman of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association Transportation Committee.

You can listen to Mr. Willox’s entire Committee statement here and Senator Barrasso’s statement here.

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