On Thursday, October 22, 2015, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee held a hearing to markup H.R. 3736, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015. As drafted, the motor carrier title of the bill is very similar to the Senate bill, which was approved earlier this year. The House proposal includes a number of CVSA’s legislative priorities, including language addressing:
- Grant consolidation
- Working group to establish
- New entrant study
- CSA
- Beyond Compliance
- Public display
- Regulatory reform
- 5 year regulatory review
- Petitions reform
- Guidance reform
- IT study
- Windshield display exemption
- Hair testing
- Expanded eligibility under the Hazardous Materials training grants
The bill also includes language on interim hiring standards, minimum insurance requirements, and other related issues. The bill contains a section calling for a study of a new concept, allowing drivers and motor carriers to self-report vehicle violations en route.
The Committee received more than 150 amendments from Members. During the markup, a number of the amendments were accepted, including many exemptions. CVSA is working on a full summary of the bill, which will include the amendments accepted during the mark up, and will send it out when the summary is complete.
Next, the bill moves to the House floor, however timing for that step is unclear, as the House continues to grapple with leadership changes and no decision on where the funding will come from. Authority runs out on October 29, meaning another extension, at least into mid-November, is likely.
You can view a recording of the mark up here, as well as find links to the bill as originally drafted, and a list of amendments that were accepted.
Click here for text of the bill.
Click here for a packet of the bill’s highlights.
Click here for the Committee’s one-page summary of the bill.