Home T&I Committee Approves Street Map for 118th Congress
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Oversight of the implementation of a $1.2 trillion infrastructure legislation is a number one precedence for the transportation coverage panel within the U.S. Home of Representatives.
In its lately permitted motion plan for the 118th Congress, the GOP-led Transportation and Infrastructure Committee indicated funding approved as a part of the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act, in addition to sure coverage directives, will probably be scrutinized over the subsequent two years. Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) is main these efforts.
“Stakeholders have raised issues concerning the provide chain disaster and the detrimental results inflation has in eroding IIJA’s funding will increase. Due to this fact, the committee will proceed to carry hearings on provide chain challenges, excessive inflation ranges and different challenges to our nation’s transportation community,” based on the panel’s views and estimates doc for fiscal 2024 that was permitted Feb. 28. The doc is supposed to help within the drafting of the finances. “The committee intends to supply laws that may cut back regulatory burdens, spend money on provide chain infrastructure and create good-paying jobs within the transportation workforce.”
Per the doc, “To make sure the environment friendly and efficient use of taxpayer {dollars}, the committee can even conduct in depth oversight to observe the distribution of IIJA funds to make sure DOT complies with the statutory necessities throughout its grant processes and thru its aggressive packages.”
Moreover, the panel intends to establish areas for potential price financial savings within the federal authorities, evaluation COVID-19 pandemic and reduction efforts, prioritize aviation security, replace Coast Guard and maritime laws and improve pipeline security packages.
Particular to rail operations, the panel indicated it might oversee and evaluation “actions taken by the Federal Railroad Administration, freight railroads, Amtrak and the Floor Transportation Board.”
The Feb. 3 freight prepare derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, prompted Graves and Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Supplies Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-Texas) to request after-action stories from the Environmental Safety Company. The Republican leaders are requesting the company’s administrator present “a doc ample to explain EPA’s position in responding to the prepare derailment, together with however not restricted to, when EPA’s response position started, the anticipated timeline for response efforts, and the names and titles of EPA officers answerable for main the response.” Graves and Nehls requested EPA Administrator Michael Regan to reply the committee by March 13.
On the opposite facet of the Capitol, a bipartisan group of senators is sponsoring the Railway Security Act of 2023. The laws goals to stop prepare derailments by boosting security requirements. The invoice proposes new necessities and procedures for trains shifting hazardous supplies. Its consideration has but to be scheduled within the chamber.
“These common sense bipartisan security measures will lastly maintain huge railroad corporations accountable, make our railroads and the cities alongside them safer, and stop future tragedies so no neighborhood has to undergo like East Palestine once more,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), a co-sponsor, mentioned March 1.
“Motion to stop future disasters is important, however we mustn’t ever lose sight of the wants of the Ohioans dwelling in East Palestine and surrounding communities,” added Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio.).
The White Home welcomed the invoice.
“We encourage Republicans and Democrats to proceed to work collectively to … advance these common sense rail security measures,” White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned.
The Week Forward (all instances Japanese)
March 8, 10 a.m.: The Senate Commerce meets for a listening to titled, “Implementation and Oversight of the Plane, Certification, Security, and Accountability Act.” Watch the listening to right here.
March 8, 10 a.m.: The Home Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Supplies Subcommittee meets for a listening to on pipeline security and the implementation of the Defending Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Security (PIPES) Act of 2020.
March 9, 10 a.m.: The Senate Atmosphere and Public Works Committee examines the security requirements of the nation’s freight rail operators. Witnesses embody Alan Shaw, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern; Debra Shore, regional administrator on the Environmental Safety Company; and Anne Vogel, director of the Ohio Environmental Safety Company. Watch the listening to right here.
March 9, 10 a.m.: The Home Aviation Subcommittee meets for a listening to to evaluation operations on the Federal Aviation Administration.
Freight Hall
Consider it as having been one click on away.
Legislative Docket
At American Trucking Associations’ Shifting & Storage Convention Annual Assembly final week, ATA chief Chris Spear took direct goal at a World Struggle I-era tax he says presents an impediment for the business. Spear advised attendees on the convention that he had lately urged federal lawmakers to revisit their efforts on the repeal of the long-standing excise tax on new vehicles. He maintained that the tax has lengthy since outlived its objective.
“A century-old [tax], created in World Struggle I, simply after the Titanic sank, to fund World Struggle I trench warfare — it’s the one of that period that also exists. And it’s costing $25,000 a tractor,” Spear mentioned Feb. 27.
Over the last session of Congress, policymakers of the Home and Senate transportation and infrastructure panels unveiled measures that will have repealed the 12% tax on new vehicles and trailers. Nonetheless, the laws stopped wanting reaching the president’s desk on account of lack of help.
Buzz
President Joe Biden nominated Julie Su to function the subsequent secretary of the U.S. Division of Labor. Su serves because the Labor Deputy Secretary.
“It’s my honor to appoint Julie Su to be our nation’s subsequent secretary of Labor. Julie has spent her life preventing to be sure that everybody has a good shot, that no neighborhood is missed and that no employee is left behind,” Biden mentioned Feb. 28. “Over a number of many years, Julie has led the biggest state labor division within the nation, cracked down on wage theft, fought to guard trafficked employees, elevated the minimal wage, created good-paying, high-quality jobs, and established and enforced office security requirements.”
Favourite Video
One other Biden nominee on the new seat.
Favourite Tweet
Subagency heads, unite!
Robin Hutchenson @FMCSA administrator: ‘ There isn’t any dividing line for #security in our modal work as a result of #roads deal with passengers & items motion on the identical time.’ #transportation #freeway #avenue #mobility @aashtospeaks @USDOT @GHSAHQ @NHTSAgov pic.twitter.com/jzYaZHQLBb
— Sean Kilcarr (@AASHTOsean) March 2, 2023
The Final Phrase
America’s waterways function important hyperlinks in our nation’s provide chains.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on March 1
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