A nationwide campaign aimed at raising awareness about human trafficking, and amplifying industrywide efforts was launched by Truckers Against Trafficking and key partners, the group announced Feb. 21.

A fiscal 2018 funding bill being negotiated is expected to provide a viable vehicle this year for advancing a meal and rest break provision for truckers which proponents argue would improve safety and efficiency.

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao will maintain the national conversation on infrastructure funding with a pair of high-profile events next week.

The Senate committee overseeing surface transportation policy already is crafting the framework for an infrastructure bill, Sen. James Inhofe told the Washington Examiner Feb. 15, a few days after the White House outlined “principles” of a $200 billion infrastructure proposal.

Legislation that would address growing funding demands for infrastructure projects should reduce regulations, and connect agencies with private investors, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee indicated in a pronouncement members easily adopted Feb. 14.

The Senate on Feb. 13 confirmed Ray Martinez to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as the Trump administration promotes a comprehensive infrastructure funding proposal.

The country’s top transportation officer assured reporters the president had not dismissed a thorny funding proposal ahead of a legislative collaboration with Congress on infrastructure during the second day of the Trump administration’s latest iteration of “Infrastructure Week.”

Reps. Jeff Denham and Sam Graves — Republican chairmen of key authorizing subcommittees in the House — expressed enthusiasm this week for the Trump White House’s long-awaited infrastructure proposal, which most Democrats already have rejected.

A program popular with state and local agencies that provides federal infrastructure grants would be denied funding under the Trump administration’s fiscal 2019 budget request released Feb. 12, which also would significantly reduce the Department of Transportation’s budget.

The Trump White House’s highly anticipated infrastructure funding plan released Feb. 12 calls for states to be given flexibility from federal tolling restrictions and to be able to reinvest toll revenues in infrastructure.