Congressman Sam Graves named “Most Effective Legislator of 118th Congress”

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Center for Effective Lawmaking at the University of Virginia has named Congressman Sam Graves as the most effective legislator of the 118th Congress.

In conducting this year's round of legislative effectiveness scores, it was determined that Graves, R-Tarkio, was the top performer, with a score that is seven times higher than the average House member.

"It's quite an honor, to be honest with you," Graves said. "And it's something that I didn't expect. I always strive to do the best I can for my district and to work through a lot of legislative issues."

The criteria for the scores include the bills sponsored by each member of Congress, the length the bills make it in the lawmaking process and how significant the proposals end up being. In the last Congress, Graves sponsored 17 bills, with eight of them passing in the house and four coming to fruition as laws.

"I'm an old-school politician," Graves said. "I believe in compromise, which means you're going to get most of what you want and not everything that you want.

Graves currently serves as the chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, along with having a seat on the House Armed Services Committee.