Graves announces new staff director for railroads, pipelines, and hazardous materials subcommittee

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today announced the promotion of Mark Ratto to serve as Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Mark first joined the Subcommittee as a professional staff member in July 2022. In his role as professional staff, Ratto helped draft key sections of the House T&I Committee-passed legislation H.R. 6494, the Promoting Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2023. Previously, he served from 2015 to 2020 as Legislative Director for Congressman Mike Bost of Illinois, and as professional staff for the House Committee on Small Business from 2011 to 2015. Before joining the Small Business Committee, Ratto served in Chairman Graves’ personal office from 2003 to 2011.

“Mark has been a valuable part of my team for many years and brings a great deal of experience to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. One of the Committee’s highest priorities this Congress is completing a new surface transportation reauthorization bill, and Mark is leading the Subcommittee staff’s work as we develop any railroad-related components of that legislation. His legislative expertise will also help guide our ongoing work to reauthorize the federal pipeline safety programs,” said Chairman Graves.