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Inhofe Staying Atop Transportation and Infrastructure Despite New Armed Services Chairmanship

Inhofe Press Office

Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe is suddenly holding a lot of cards in Washington.

Inhofe, recently named as chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, said he’s been approved for a waiver and will continue chairing the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

"Those are the two things we’re supposed to be doing up there, defending America and infrastructure. So, that’s what I’ll continue to do," Inhofe said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced last week Inhofe would succeed the late Sen. John McCain as the armed services committee chairman. Inhofe led the committee in McCain's stead while the Arizona senator was undergoing medical treatment for brain cancer.

Inhofe said his priorities will be boosting military spending and helping build President Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan, and many are wondering how both of those will be covered. Inhofe said economic growth under Trump should do it.

"For every 1 percent increase in economic activity, or GDP, that translates into an additional $2.9 trillion over 10 years," Inhofe said.

That infrastructure plan should come to Congress next year. It will offer funding to states based on factors like available land, population and needs.

"Well, in the state of Oklahoma, we look very good on the formula. And so, we’re going to be rebuilding a lot of things … we’re going to have a massive rebuilding program," Inhofe said. "We’re going — it’s already taking place now. It started about six months ago. And so, we’ll be busy here."

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.