Contents

Sam Graves

Sam Graves
Chair of the House Transportation Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Peter DeFazio
Ranking Member of the House Transportation Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Peter DeFazio
Succeeded by	Rick Larsen
Chair of the House Small Business Committee
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Nydia Velázquez
Succeeded by	Steve Chabot
Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Steve Chabot
Succeeded by	Nydia Velázquez
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 6th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Pat Danner
Member of the Missouri Senate from the 12th district
In office January 4, 1995 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Glen Klippenstein
Succeeded by	David Klindt
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 4th district
In office January 6, 1993 – January 4, 1995
Preceded by	Phil Tate
Succeeded by	Rex Barnett
Personal details
Born	Samuel Bruce Graves Jr. (1963-11-07) November 7, 1963 (age 60) Tarkio, Missouri, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Lesley Hickok ​ (m. 1986⁠–⁠2012)​
Children	3
Relatives	Todd Graves (brother)
Education	University of Missouri (BS)
Website	House 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 politician serving as the United States representative for Missouri's 6th congressional district, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches across most of the northern third of the state, from the Kansas border to the Illinois border. The bulk of its population lives in the northern part of the Kansas City area, including the northern fourth of Kansas City. Graves is the dean of Missouri's congressional delegation.

Early life, education, and career[edit]

Graves is a lifelong resident of Tarkio, a small city in Missouri's northwestern corner, not far from the Iowa and Nebraska borders.^[1] 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.^[1] He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity.^[2]

Personal life[edit]

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.^[3][4][5] Graves is a Baptist.^[6]

Missouri legislature[edit]

Graves was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1992.^[7] After one term, he was elected to the Missouri Senate in 1994 and reelected in 1998.^[1]

U.S. House of Representatives[edit]

Committee assignments[edit]

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Chair)
  • As Chair of the Committee, Rep. Graves is entitled to sit as an ex officio member in any subcommittee meeting per the committee's rules.

Caucus memberships[edit]

• Congressional Cement Caucus
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption^[8]

Political positions[edit]

Financial bailouts[edit]

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."^[9] 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.^[10] 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.^[11]

Israel[edit]

Graves voted to support Israel following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.^[12][13]

Todd Graves controversy[edit]

Graves is the brother of Todd Graves, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.^[14] 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.^[14] 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).^[15]

Ethics investigation[edit]

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."^[16] 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."^[17] 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.^[18][19]

Political campaigns[edit]

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.

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,^[20] 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[edit]

1994[edit]

1998[edit]

2000[edit]

2002[edit]

2004[edit]

2006[edit]

2008[edit]

Graves faced a tougher reelection race in 2008 against the Democratic nominee, former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes. He gained national attention early in the race for running an ad accusing Barnes of promoting "San Francisco values." It was initially considered one of the most competitive races in the country,^{[citation needed]} but Graves was reelected handily, with 59% of the vote to Barnes's 37%.

2010[edit]

2012[edit]

2014[edit]

2016[edit]

2018[edit]

2020[edit]

2022[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sam Graves.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Sam Graves.

• Congressman Sam Graves official U.S. House website
• Sam Graves for Congress
• Sam GravesatCurlie
• AppearancesonC-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• ProfileatVote Smart