House Freight Panel to Issue Report

The House panel examining the state of freight transportation in the United States and how improving that could strengthen the nation’s economy will unveil its report Oct. 30 in Washington.

The panel has spent six months holding hearings on the problems facing the various freight transportation modes and funding issues facing lawmakers.

Six hearings have been held by the panel, including three field hearings in Los Angeles, New York City and Memphis, Tenn. Three roundtable meetings were also held, one of which was in Chicago to examine freight rail issues.

The special freight panel was created by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Ranking Member Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.V.).

Shuster formed the special panel in anticipation of next year’s transportation reauthorization debate in Congress.

The current reauthorization legislation, MAP-21, was signed last year by President Obama but was only for two years. The law expires in September 2014.