NBAA Thanks Rep. Sam Graves, a Peerless Aviation Champion, for His Service

Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, dhubbard@nbaa.org

Washington, DC, March 27, 2026 –  National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen today thanked longtime congressional leader and tireless general aviation (GA) advocate Rep. Sam Graves (R-06-MO), following his announcement that he will not seek reelection to a 14th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Graves is chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, on which he has served since he was first elected to Congress in 2001. He has long championed legislation fostering innovation, development and safety across the nation’s aviation industry.

“Sam Graves deserves to be considered one of the most effective and consequential chairs in the history of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,” Bolen said.

To illustrate his point, Bolen noted several legislative accomplishments included in an overall record of remarkable policy achievements:

• Graves led the passage of the landmark FAA Reauthorization Bill of 2024 with nearly unanimous bipartisan support in the House, directly resulting from his leadership as T&I Committee chair, and the highly effective working relationship he fostered with the committee’s Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-02-WA). 

• In the aftermath of the tragic accident between an airliner and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in 2025, Graves was instrumental in providing $12.5 billion as a critical first step in the work to build a Brand New Air Traffic Control System – a top priority for government and industry.

• Just this week, the T&I Committee passed the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act, legislation designed to implement the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board related to the 2025 midair collision.

“Throughout his tenure, Chairman Graves has been a workhorse rather than a show horse,” Bolen said, noting his leadership in several posts. In 2009, he led the establishment of the House General Aviation Caucus since 2009, and was named caucus co-chair in 2011. Graves has also served as chair of the House Small Business Committee.  

“In an era characterized by partisanship, Sam Graves passed one bipartisan bill after another – not only during his tenure as House T&I Committee chair, but also during his service as chairman of the House Small Business Committee.”

Graves is an accomplished GA pilot who frequently performs at events around the country, including the annual Wingnuts Flying Circus Airshow and Fly-In, which he hosts in his hometown of Tarkio, MO.

Graves has also been a frequent participant and speaker at NBAA events, including the 2024 and 2025 editions of NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE).

“In his 25 years representing Missouri’s 6th district, Sam has reached across the aisle to make Congress and our country better,” Bolen said. “We thank him for his dedication to public service, including his indelible contributions in preserving America’s global leadership in aviation.”

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

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