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Sam Graves

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This article is about the U.S. representative from Missouri. For other persons with similar names, see Samuel Graves (disambiguation).

Sam Graves
Chair of the House Transportation Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byPeter DeFazio
Ranking Member of the House Transportation Committee
In office
January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byPeter DeFazio
Succeeded byRick Larsen
Chair of the House Small Business Committee
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015
Preceded byNydia Velázquez
Succeeded bySteve Chabot
Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee
In office
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Preceded bySteve Chabot
Succeeded byNydia Velázquez
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 6th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2001
Preceded byPat Danner
Member of the Missouri Senate
from the 12th district
In office
January 4, 1995 – January 3, 2001
Preceded byGlen Klippenstein
Succeeded byDavid Klindt
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 4th district
In office
January 6, 1993 – January 4, 1995
Preceded byPhil Tate
Succeeded byRex Barnett
Personal details
Born
Samuel Bruce Graves Jr.

(1963-11-07) November 7, 1963 (age 61)
Tarkio, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Lesley Hickok
​
(m. 1986⁠–⁠2012)​
Children3
RelativesTodd Graves (brother)
EducationUniversity of Missouri (BS)
WebsiteHouse website
Sam Graves's voice
Graves explains his support for a joint resolution terminating the COVID-19 national emergency
Recorded February 1, 2023

Samuel Bruce Graves Jr. (born November 7, 1963) is an American aviator and politician best known for serving in the U.S. House of Representatives for Missouri's 6th congressional district, with him being the dean of Missouri's congressional delegation and having held office since 2001. The aforementioned district stretches across most of the northern third of the state, with it including territory from the Kansas border to the Illinois border. The bulk of its population lives in the northern part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Graves is a member of the Republican Party. He has notably served as the Chair in charge of the influential Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the U.S. House for multiple years, with him being able to exceed the system of American term limits normally enforced by the Republican leadership.[1]

Early life, education, and career

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Graves is a lifelong resident of Tarkio, a small city in Missouri's northwestern corner, not far from the Iowa and Nebraska borders.[2] He is the son of Janice A. (née Hord) and Samuel Bruce Graves. He graduated from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture with a degree in agronomy.[2] He is a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity.[3]

Personal life

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Graves is a general aviation pilot. He owns a Piper PA-11 Cub Special, is restoring a Beech AT-10, and co-owns a North American T-6 Texan and a Vultee BT-13 Valiant. Gould Peterson Municipal Airport is named after his uncle, an aviator, and is on his family's farm.[4][5][6] Graves is a Baptist.[7]

Missouri legislature

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Graves was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1992.[8] After one term, he was elected to the Missouri Senate in 1994 and reelected in 1998.[2]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Committee assignments

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Caucus memberships

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Political positions

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Financial bailouts

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After the September 2008 economic crisis, Graves voted against the proposed bailout of United States financial system, claiming it "neither 'punished the wrongdoers nor adequately protected the innocent taxpayers, investors and retirees' caught in the Wall Street banking crisis."[10] In January 2014, Graves introduced the TRICARE Family Improvement Act. The bill would allow dependents of military members to stay on their parents' TRICARE health plan after turning age 26. The bill would change current law, which requires those dependents to change to a separate health plan after turning 26.[11] The American Conservative Union gave him an 85% evaluation in 2017. As of 2019, Graves has a 4% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters.[12]

Israel

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Graves voted to support Israel following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[13][14]

Todd Graves controversy

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Graves is the brother of Todd Graves, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.[15] In October 2008, U.S. Senator Kit Bond apologized to Todd Graves after a U.S. Justice Department report cited Bond forcing Graves out over a disagreement with Representative Graves.[15] Following the report, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey appointed a special prosecutor to investigate whether former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other officials involved in the firings of nine U.S. attorneys broke the law (dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy).[16]

Ethics investigation

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In 2009, the House Ethics Committee began an inquiry into whether Graves used his position on the Small Business Committee to invite Brooks Hurst, a longtime friend and a business partner of his wife, to testify at a committee hearing on the federal regulation of biodiesel and ethanol production. Graves had failed to mention the financial link between his wife and Hurst at the hearing, which dealt with federal subsidies for renewable fuels. A review by the independent Office of Congressional Ethics found "substantial reason to believe that an appearance of conflict of interest was created."[17] Graves said in a statement, "I look forward to a quick review of the facts and answering any questions that the committee may have. I believe that a speedy review will show that all the rules of the House concerning testimony in front of the Small Business Committee were followed."[18] The Office of Congressional Ethics referred the case to the House Ethics committee, which ended its own investigation in October, and released a report finding no ethical violations, as it asserted there was no standard in place for appearances like Hurst's.[19][20]

Political campaigns

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Before his congressional career, Graves served eight years in the Missouri General Assembly, winning election to the Missouri House of Representatives once, and to the Missouri Senate twice.

Graves on the left with President George W. Bush at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri on March 20, 2007
Graves greeting President Barack Obama in the Blue Room of the White House on May 2, 2011
Graves with President Donald Trump at the signing of the FAA bill on October 5, 2018
Graves and a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meet with President Joe Biden on March 4, 2021

In 2000, Democratic U.S. Representative Pat Danner suddenly retired due to breast cancer. Graves filed within the short period of time left for filing. He faced Danner's son, Steve Danner, a former state senator, in the general election. Graves called Danner as a "tax and spend liberal" and won the race with 51% of the vote,[21] largely by running up huge margins in the district's rural areas. He was arguably helped by George W. Bush carrying the district in the 2000 presidential election, a theory known as the coattail effect.[citation needed]

1992

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1992 Election for Missouri House of Representatives 4th District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 7,837 56.48%
Democratic Everett W. Brown 6,038 43.52%
Total votes 13,875 100%

1994

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1994 Election for Missouri Senate 12th District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 35,221 60.61%
Democratic Doug R. Hughes 22,888 39.31%
Total votes 58,109 100%

1998

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1998 Election for Missouri Senate 12th District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 31,883 62.69%
Democratic Beth M. Wheeler 18,974 37.31%
Total votes 50,857 100%

2000

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2000 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 30,014 68.05
Republican Teresa Anne Loar 7,493 16.99
Republican Jeff Bailey 4,575 10.37
Republican John Dady 1,122 2.54
Republican Jack C. DeSalms 901 2.04
Total votes 44,105 100
General election
Republican Sam Graves 138,925 50.85
Democratic Steve Danner 127,792 46.78
Libertarian Jimmy Dykes 3,696 1.35
Natural Law Marie Richey 2,788 1.02
Total votes 273,201 100

2002

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2002 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 131,151 63.03
Democratic Cathy Rinehart 73,202 35.18
Libertarian Erik Buck 3,735 1.79
Total votes 208,088 100

2004

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Graves during the
108th Congress
2004 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 196,516 63.83
Democratic Charles S. Broomfield 106,987 34.75
Libertarian Erik Buck 4,352 1.41
Total votes 307,855 100

2006

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2006 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 150,882 61.64
Democratic Sara Jo Shettles 87,477 35.73
Libertarian Erik Buck 4,757 1.94
Progressive Party Shirley A. Yurkonis 1,679 0.69
Total votes 244,795 100

2008

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See also: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri § District 6

In 2008, Graves' Democratic challenger was former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes. She was the first reasonably well-financed Democrat to run in the district since Graves' initial run. Graves gained national attention early in the race for running an ad accusing Barnes of promoting "San Francisco values." Despite Barnes' roots in the district (she grew up in St. Joseph and lived in the district's share of Kansas City), Graves was reelected handily, with 59% of the vote to Barnes's 37%.

2008 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 196,526 59.43
Democratic Kay Barnes 121,894 36.86
Libertarian Dave Browning 12,279 3.71
Total votes 330,699 100

2010

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See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri § District 6
2010 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 54,566 82.46%
Republican Christopher Ryan 11,608 17.53%
Total votes 66,174 100
General election
Republican Sam Graves 154,103 69.44
Democratic Clint Hylton 67,762 30.54
Write-In Kyle Yarber 47 0.02
Total votes 221,912 100

2012

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2012 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 59,388 80.33%
Republican Christopher Ryan 9,945 13.45%
Republican Bob Gough 4,598 6.22%
Total votes 73,931 100
General election
Republican Sam Graves 216,906 65.00
Democratic Kyle Yarber 108,503 32.52
Libertarian Russ Monchil 8,279 2.48
Total votes 333,688 100

2014

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2014 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 124,616 66.65
Democratic Bill Hedge 55,157 29.50
Libertarian Russ Monchil 7,197 3.85

2016

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2016 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 238,388 68.0
Democratic David Blackwell 98,588 28.4
Libertarian Russ Monchil 8,123 2.3
Green Mike Diel 4,241 1.2

2018

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2018 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 199,796 65.4
Democratic Henry Martin 97,660 32.0
Libertarian Dan Hogan 7,953 2.6

2020

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2020 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 258,709 67.1
Democratic Gena Ross 118,926 30.8
Libertarian Jim Higgins 8,144 2.1

2022

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2022 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Graves 184,865 70.3
Democratic Henry Martin 72,253 27.5
Libertarian Edward A (Andy) Maidment 5,774 2.2

References

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  1. ^ https://www.axios.com/2024/12/03/sam-graves-transportation-committee-waiver
  2. ^ a b c "Meet Sam". Congressman Sam Graves. December 3, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  3. ^ "Greek Political Leaders | North-American Interfraternity Conference". nicindy.org. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  4. ^ "AOPA Q&A with US Rep. Sam Graves". aopa.org. March 6, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  5. ^ Matthew Murray (November 6, 2007). "Federal Cash Rebuilds Airstrip Near Graves' Land - Roll Call". Roll Call. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  6. ^ Shiner, Linda (March 2014). "Aviation's Man in Washington". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  7. ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "Our Campaigns - MO State House 004 Race - Nov 03, 1992". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute".
  10. ^ "Graves, Boyda vote against $700B bailout in the U.S. House". The News-Press. September 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2007.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ^ "Graves proposes changes to military family health coverage" Archived March 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Ripon Advance. 1/31/14. Retrieved 2/7/14.
  12. ^ "Check out Representative Sam Graves's Environmental Voting Record". February 17, 2021.
  13. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ a b "Kit Bond apologizes for staff's role in firing of federal prosecutor". The News Leader. September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2007. [dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Prosecutor will investigate firings of nine U.S. Attorneys". The Miami Herald. September 29, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2007.[dead link‍]
  17. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  18. ^ Margasak, Larry (September 16, 2009). "Ethics panel defers probe on Jesse Jackson Jr". Associated Press. Retrieved September 16, 2009.[dead link‍]
  19. ^ Larry Margasak [2] Congressional ethics report leaked, reveals names LARRY MARGASAK, October 30, 2009 Associated Press
  20. ^ "Campaign Legal Center blog: Fault Ethics Committee, Not OCE". Clcblog.org. November 20, 2009. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  21. ^ "Missouri Secretary of State". Sos.mo.gov. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
[edit]
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Missouri House of Representatives
Preceded by
Phil Tate
 Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 4th district
1993–1995 		Succeeded by
Missouri Senate
Preceded by Member of the Missouri Senate
from the 12th district
1995–2001 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 6th congressional district
2001–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee
2009–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the House Small Business Committee
2011–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ranking Member of the House Transportation Committee
2019–2023 		Succeeded by
Chair of the House Transportation Committee
2023–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
37th 		Succeeded by
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