Capitol Agenda for the Week of April 23: Denham Amendment
Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) are seeking consideration on the House floor for an amendment that aims to clarify regulations related to motor carriers in a 1994 aviation policy law.
Their goal is ensure nationwide uniformity for meal-and-rest break rules for truckers.
The House Committee on Rules has scheduled a meeting April 24 to outline the debate parameters for legislation that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as to determine which amendments to allow on the floor. The bill is sponsored by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), and its floor consideration is likely as early as midweek.
An aviation reauthorization bill in the Senate includes a similar meal-and-rest break provision.
American Trucking Associations has expressed support for such a provision, emphasizing that it would clarify a requirement in a 1994 aviation law to block a 2011 law in California. The law in California requires employers to provide a “duty-free” 30-minute meal break for employees who work more than five hours a day as well as a second “duty-free” 30-minute meal break for people who work more than 10 hours a day.
ATA “continues to work on behalf of an industry that is being victimized by unscrupulous trial lawyers and their political allies,” Bill Sullivan, ATA executive vice president of advocacy, told Transport Topics on April 19. “We believe there should be a single set of clear and effective rules governing driver safety and wellness from coast to coast.”
THE WEEK AHEAD: (all times EDT)
April 23, 7 p.m.: The Politics and Prose Bookstore holds a book discussion on big data.
April 24, 11:45 a.m.: President Donald Trump holds a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
April 24, 2:30 p.m.: The Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee meets on maritime transportation.
April 24, 5 p.m.: House Rules Committee schedules a meeting to determine debate parameters for an aviation bill.
April 25, 8 p.m.: CNN and the student assembly at the College of William & Mary University hold a town hall with former FBI Director James Comey.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
MATTRESS: Lippert Components Inc. introduced a bedding line for Class 8 truck mattresses designed to provide a better fit for unconventional mattress sizes and shapes.
GLIDERS: Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have written three separate letters to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt asking him to reconsider his proposal to repeal an Obama administration regulation that would limit the number of glider kits manufactured each year.
OIL: President Donald Trump’s assertion that OPEC is propping up oil prices amid oversupply and an excess of floating storage has a problem: It’s only half true.
NTDC: The Road to NTDC continues with state tournaments this weekend in Mississippi, Tennessee and Nevada.
WHAT WE’RE READING:
Freight trains, each car looks the same.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
I’m optimistic that this year we may finally return to a regular appropriations process.
Sen. Susan Collins on Meet The Press on April 22
FAVORITE VIDEO:
Tax Day
FAVORITE TWEET:
Earth Day
Happy #EarthDay18! Civil engineers, let’s build a more resilient & sustainable world! Watch this video from last year’s #ICSI2017 that brought together #sustainability leaders from around the globe to discuss something that affects us all – our planet. https://t.co/JmMvTa4QMG pic.twitter.com/nMMJCXVKk9 — ASCE Headquarters (@ASCETweets) April 22, 2018
Thanks for reading Capitol Agenda. We publish when Congress is in session. E-mail emulero@ttnews.com with tips. Follow us @eugenemulero and @transporttopics.
