Capitol Agenda for the Week of March 8: Trucking in the Aviation Bill

CAPITOL AGENDA: Trucking in the Aviation Bill

House Republican leaders have yet to provide details of a temporary extension that would authorize federal aviation programs. Current authorization for those programs expires at the end of the month.

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg News

And why are we writing about an aviation bill? That’s because key trucking leaders have pushed for a provision in a long-term Federal Aviation Administration authorizing bill in the House that would prevent states from enacting laws requiring companies to schedule meal-and-rest breaks for drivers or to pay drivers by the hour. That long-term bill stalled due to disputes over the trucking provision and a proposal that would privatize air traffic controllers. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on March 3 said a temporary extension of aviation authorization was being discussed with Senate Republican leaders, adding that a final decision had yet to be made. “We will have to do an extension. It’s clear the Senate isn’t even as far down the path on an FAA reauthorization as the House is," the speaker told reporters. "We’re working with the Senate to decide the duration." Ryan’s Senate counterparts have not indicated whether a similar trucking provision would be included in their FAA reauthorization package.

WEEK AHEAD:

March 9, at 9:30 a.m.: The Waterways Council is scheduled to make a presentation at the National Press Club.

March 10, at 8:30 a.m.: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hosts a workshop to explore ways of promoting evidence-based behavior change in a traffic safety setting.

March 11, at 10 a.m.: Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx delivers remarks at The Collider’s launch event in North Carolina.

CREDIT COUNCIL: The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General initiated an audit of the department’s credit council with the objective to assess the council’s policies and procedures for carrying out its duties.

INSTAGRAM: Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) launched the 2SenateCommerce Instagram account recently. “We launched our Instagram account to further engage with those whom we serve and communicate our role in the Senate through behind-the-scenes images and video,” the chairman said. Broadcasting & Cable delivers the writeup.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

ENTRY-LEVEL: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on March 4 made public its “negotiated” proposed entry-level driver training rule that would revise the standards required for new interstate and intrastate commercial vehicle operators to obtain a commercial driver license.

GHG: Summaries of private industry meetings with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officials are among more than two dozen documents released by federal regulators related to a final Phase 2 heavy-duty truck greenhouse-gas emissions regulation.

DARLING: The nomination of Scott Darling to lead FMCSA was easily advanced by the Senate Commerce Committee on March 3.

WHAT WE’RE READING:

In Streetsblog USA, Daniel Hertz details the changing trends in transportation mobility, based on age. Millennials continue to demonstrate an interest in transit options and urban lifestyles.  

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Freight is the stuff that helps us live our lives, and it's the commodities and products that drive our economy. It has to move.” — Secretary Foxx, writing DOT’s “Fast Lane” blog, about recent freight projections.

FAVORITE VIDEO:

The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) seeks applications for its annual awards recognizing projects that state departments of Transportation completed last year. The awards are co-sponsored by the AAA motor club and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

FAVORITE TWEET:

The American Society of Civil Engineers provides an update on transportation funding around the states:

States we're watching for transportation action in 2016: https://t.co/dppjJHDJoY — ASCE Gov't Relations (@ASCEGovRel) March 5, 2016

We publish when Congress is in session. Follow us @transporttopics, @SethClevenger, @ericdmiller46, @neilabt, @davidelfin and @eugenemulero.