WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), welcomed Luke Reiner, director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, to the committee.

Reiner was testifying before the committee at a hearing <https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings?ID=FF9A8EE5-ECD3-44B0-9A5C-9EB617A325E1> titled “Investing in America’s Surface Transportation Infrastructure: The Need for a Multi-Year Reauthorization Bill.” Barrasso introduced Reiner to the committee prior to his testimony. “I want to take a moment to welcome to the committee Luke Reiner, the director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation. “Luke was appointed the 18th director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation in March of this year. He recently retired as the adjutant general for Wyoming for our National Guard.  “In that role, he directed the Wyoming Military Department in Cheyenne where he was responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, all plans and programs that affected more than 3,000 Army and Air National Guard members. “Director Reiner served as commander of a camp in Kuwait, during Operation Iraqi Freedom II, and commanded the Wyoming Army National Guard’s 115th Fires Brigade, and I know we have another deployment coming shortly. “He has received numerous awards and honors for his remarkable service to our country. “He has an extensive educational background, which includes an Accounting degree and a Master’s of Public Administration degree from the University of Wyoming. “Director Reiner, I want to thank you for your service to our country, and for everything you are doing for the people of Wyoming. Thank you for being here to testify today,” said Barrasso.

In his written testimony <https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/1/1/11092de9-34cb-4c11-a360-e82ac7bb15e3/B0D745754C104A53799247BCBF215A16.07.10.2019-reiner-testimony.pdf> , Reiner outlined the importance of including support for rural states in the highway infrastructure legislation. “Significant federal investment in highways and transportation in rural states is a sound policy that must be continued, for many reasons. Consider truck movements from West Coast ports to Chicago or the East Coast. These and other movements traverse states like ours and benefit people and commerce in the metropolitan areas at both ends of the journey,” said Reiner. Reiner also emphasized the need for formula funding. Reiner stated, “Formula highway programs, in contrast to discretionary programs, should continue to receive very strong federal funding emphasis, such as occurred under the FAST Act. Formula dollars are delivered as projects more promptly than discretionary dollars, and the public is eager for transportation investment.” Reiner concluded by stating he expects to see regulatory reduction in the highway legislation. “Regulatory burdens can be streamlined and in some cases reduced, so each dollar can deliver greater benefits.  This comment is not limited to the project delivery process. Administrative and program burdens can also be streamlined and in some cases eliminated. Congress should streamline where it can, so states will be able to put more time and dollars into delivering transportation benefits to the public,” said Reiner.