Congressional Leaders Working to Avert Shutdown
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WASHINGTON — When the clock strikes midnight Oct. 1, the federal authorities is certain to expertise a partial shutdown if Congress doesn’t log off on laws that may do in any other case.
To this point, high-profile disagreements throughout the Home Republican caucus level to the actual potential for Washington to endure a shutdown. With simply a few days earlier than a shutdown is triggered, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has but to steer each aspect of his convention to keep away from federal funding disruptions. Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is readying a short-term funding invoice designed to briefly avert the partial shutdown. Nonetheless, the Senate technique lacks important bipartisan backing.
In the meantime, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been outlining the influence a shutdown would have on the nation’s mobility grid.
“Within the occasion of a shutdown, we must instantly cease so many vital actions within the Division of Transportation, like coaching air visitors controllers,” the secretary advised ABC Information on Sept. 24. “After every part we’ve been via, after the entire disruptions to air visitors — to air journey that we skilled final yr — this yr, we lastly see cancellations and delays again to regular. They’re really a little bit under the place they had been earlier than COVID[-19]. This might be a reversal that no person desires, no person requested for.”
Days earlier, Buttigieg advised reporters on Capitol Hill: “A shutdown can be a extremely troublesome scenario.”
Transportation stakeholders are sounding the alarm as effectively.
“We strongly urge expeditious passage of a full-year Transportation, Housing and City Improvement, and Associated Businesses (THUD) appropriations invoice … to keep away from funding disruption — whether or not on account of a lapse in appropriations or via a collection of constant resolutions (CR) — that may influence this vital work of steadily investing in our nationwide transportation system,” the American Affiliation of State Freeway and Transportation Officers wrote to congressional leaders this month.
“Whereas we perceive the necessity for a CR previous to the top of the fiscal yr — and strongly ask that such a CR go earlier than Sept. 30 — it’s vitally vital that Congress reaches settlement on the full-year THUD invoice and ship it to the president shortly,” the affiliation added.
Neither the Home nor the Senate has scheduled a remaining vote on fiscal 2024 transportation funding laws. Each legislative variations would dedicate almost $1 billion for the Federal Motor Provider Security Administration.
Former Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), addressing the Congressional Household Enterprise Caucus final week, acknowledged Congress historically has been partisan, “nevertheless it’s nothing in comparison with what it’s at the moment.”
The Week Forward (all instances Jap)
Sept. 28, 10 a.m.: The Home Water Assets and Atmosphere Subcommittee meets for a listening to titled, “Clear Water Infrastructure Financing: State and Native Views and Current Developments.” Witnesses embody Lori Johnson on behalf of the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities and Todd Swingle on behalf of the Nationwide Affiliation of Clear Water Businesses. Watch the listening to right here.
Freight Hall
Fed funds movement to the Backyard State.
Legislative Docket
Laws aiming to dam efforts designed to stop the sale of inside combustion engines was accepted within the U.S. Home of Representatives. By a 222-190 vote Sept. 14, the Preserving Selection in Car Purchases Act superior to the Senate. Sponsored by Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.), the invoice would limit the Environmental Safety Company from issuing waivers particular to the sale or use of recent motor autos geared up with the standard engines, together with diesel items.
Republican sponsors defined the measure would protect the integrity of client alternative in addition to safe market competitors. Central to the invoice is responding to California lawmakers concentrating on the sale of autos with inside combustion engines.
Joyce advised colleagues Sept. 14, “We can not anticipate automobile producers to construct one automobile in California and one other one for Pennsylvania. In areas like my district in central and western Pennsylvania, electrical autos are unable to carry out within the mountainous terrain and lose vary in excessive warmth and in excessive chilly.”
A model of the invoice has been launched within the Senate. The higher chamber’s Democratic management has not signaled the invoice’s consideration in committee.
“We can not enable California’s expensive and excessive Inexperienced New Deal agenda to get rid of client alternative for a whole lot of thousands and thousands of American households,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a sponsor, mentioned shortly after the Home vote.
Buzz
Senators are renewing their requires a ground vote on freight rail security laws. Months after the Commerce Committee superior the excellent measure, panel Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) is main a push to advance the invoice via Congress.
“The Feb. 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern practice derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which resulted within the burning of six vinyl chloride tank vehicles and compelled the evacuation of roughly 2,000 close by residents, was a reminder of the dangers posed by hazardous supplies transportation,” Cantwell and her colleagues indicated final week. “Class I freight railroads had the best derailment charge previously decade … greater than 43,000 rail employees have been injured.”
The committee-passed Railway Security Act, designed to advertise the secure transport of freight alongside rail strains, targets steerage at businesses such because the Federal Railroad Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Supplies Security Administration.
“We constructed a broad, bipartisan coalition that agree on these common sense security measures that can lastly maintain large railroad corporations like Norfolk Southern accountable,” mentioned Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in Could. He’s a co-sponsor with Ohio’s J.D. Vance (R).
Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has but to schedule a vote on the rail invoice. A Home model has not superior to the ground.
Favourite Video
Union employees are putting, and POTUS will stroll amongst them.
Favourite Tweet
The Equality State making headlines for transportation upgrades.
FHWA Adm @BhattmobileT joined WYDOT Director Darin Westby, WY Trucking Assoc President Foertsch, and different native & state officers in Wyoming to have a good time the completion of the I-80 Winter Freight Mission and spotlight truck parking security & nationwide freight mobility. @WYDOTNews pic.twitter.com/zD8X3NRsxf
— Federal Freeway Admn (@USDOTFHWA) September 21, 2023
The Final Phrase
California continues to play a number one function in our nation’s quickly increasing area trade.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Sept. 15.
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