Provisions approved in the country’s premier federal infrastructure law will alleviate supply chain bottlenecks and assist the economy, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation told a Senate panel March 2.

President Joe Biden in his first State of the Union address stressed a long-term vision for the $1 trillion infrastructure bill he signed last year, and discussed domestic and international priorities his administration is targeting.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has partnered with American Trucking Associations for an apprenticeship program that could play a significant role in easing the industry’s driver shortage, and presents motor carriers with an opportunity to directly work with and train new entrants to boost their driving ranks.

At his State of the Union on March 1, President Joe Biden is expected to promote aspects of a nearly $2 trillion social infrastructure budget that dominated Democrats’ agenda last year.

A group of Republican senators urged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to revisit his department’s approach to aspects of an infrastructure law’s implementation.

Legislation that would dedicate $52 billion to boost the country’s role as a semiconductor manufacturer amid a supply chain crisis is expected to be a main item on Congress’ agenda over the coming weeks.

Congressional lawmakers are proposing measures that include a suspension of the federal gas tax to stave off soaring prices at the pump, and are considering other remedies to ease inflationary price increases as Congress averted a federal government shutdown by passing a short-term spending measure.

Legislation designed to facilitate recovery efforts for communities and commercial corridors hard-hit by natural disasters is ready for debate before the U.S. House of Representatives, the chamber’s top transportation policymaker said recently.

WASHINGTON — The chairman of a panel overseeing small business policy highlighted potential benefits a $1 trillion infrastructure law would have on freight connectivity across the country.

Max Vekich was confirmed by a 51-43 Senate vote to serve on the Federal Maritime Commission through 2026.