For a great number of college students in this country the dreaded finals week is finally over, clearing the way for trips back home to catch up with family and friends for holidays. In much the same way, lawmakers in Washington have a version of finals week to deal with. Here's your Capitol Agenda look at the week ahead for trucking on Capitol Hill.

The National Transportation Safety Board needs to ensure technical skills are available and staff expertise is maintained to address concerns related to autonomous vehicles and new technology, nominee Thomas Chapman told a Senate panel Dec. 11.

WASHINGTON — Despite opposition from leading transportation groups, the Federal Communications Commission on Dec. 12 unanimously moved to proceed with a proposal that would devote a significant aspect of auto safety airwaves to broadband uses, with a remainder for a new cellular connected-vehicle technology.

Freight stakeholders expressed strong support for the recent agreement reached by congressional Democrats and the Trump White House on a new trade deal with Canada and Mexico, as the U.S. House readies a vote on the deal before the end of the year.

Legislation seeking to improve drug testing for employees in safety-sensitive transportation posts was easily advanced by a U.S. Senate panel on Dec. 11.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking to improve the way it proceeds with rulemaking, guidance and enforcement by structuring a series of reforms.

Despite the attention-grabbing impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, the Environment and Public Works Committee in the U.S. Senate managed to advance a five-year highway reauthorization measure this summer. It was a modest step forward for policymakers, even though a long-term funding fix for highway programs was left unresolved. Here's your Capitol Agenda look at the week ahead for trucking on Capitol Hill.

Consideration in Congress of an extensive update to federal transportation guidelines must prioritize sustainable funding that enhances freight connectivity and reduces congestion, industry stakeholders told lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Dec. 5.

With the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump entering a new phase this month, congressional leaders continue to criticize each other over inaction on legislation to keep the federal government funded through fiscal 2020, a new trade agreement and infrastructure policy.

A group representing engineers is pushing back on recently introduced legislation that aims to develop projects through open competition among suppliers of construction materials.