Congressman Garret Graves joins the show to discuss the speculation about him potentially becoming the next head of FEMA. Graves acknowledged that over the past few years, he has been suggested for various positions due to his diverse background in energy, natural resources, infrastructure, and regulatory issues. Despite the attractiveness of the Secretary of Transportation role, Graves emphasized his current focus on legislative priorities, such as the Social Security bill and other appropriation issues.
Graves expressed some interest in the FEMA position but highlighted his past criticisms of the agency’s structure. He believes FEMA should be elevated to a cabinet-level agency, separate from the Department of Homeland Security, to improve its agility and responsiveness. Graves mentioned a bill he co-sponsored with Congressman Jared Moskowitz to achieve this restructuring, although it has not yet been implemented. He admitted that he might struggle with the bureaucratic nature of the role but remains open to discussions with the transition team and the new administration.
The conversation then shifted to Graves’ legislative efforts, particularly the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) reforms. Graves highlighted the importance of strategic planning in getting legislation passed and expressed concerns about attempts to include these reforms in end-of-year negotiations, which he believes could jeopardize their success. He advocated for a standalone bill approach in the Senate to ensure transparency and accountability, urging senators to vote on the bill without attaching other provisions. Graves remains optimistic about the bill’s prospects, noting that Senator Cassidy has shown support for the legislation.