[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H39-H41]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRANSPORTATION REPORTS ELIMINATION ACT OF 2013
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3628) to eliminate certain unnecessary reporting
requirements and consolidate or modify others, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3628
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Transportation Reports
Elimination Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Department of Transportation.--
(1) Air traffic services committee reports.--Section
106(p)(7) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking subparagraph (H); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph (H).
(2) Annual summaries of financial reports.--Subsection (k)
of section 47107 of title 49, United States Code, is
repealed.
(3) Pipeline safety information grants to communities
annual report.--Section 60130 of title 49, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (c); and
(B) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c).
(4) Pilot program for innovative financing of air traffic
control equipment annual report.--Section 182 of the Vision
100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 44502
note) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (e); and
(B) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (e).
(5) Justification for air defense identification zone.--
Section 602 of the Vision 100--Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-176; 117 Stat. 2563), and
the item relating to that section in the table of contents in
section 1(b) of that Act, are repealed.
(6) Standards for aircraft and aircraft engines to reduce
noise levels annual report.--Section 726 of the Wendell H.
Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century
(49 U.S.C. 47508 note) is amended by striking subsection (c).
(b) Environmental Protection Agency.--
(1) Great lakes management comprehensive report.--Section
118(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1268(c)) is amended--
(A) by striking paragraph (10); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (11), (12), and (13) as
paragraphs (10), (11), and (12), respectively.
(2) General assistance program report to congress.--The
Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Act of 1992
(42 U.S.C. 4368b) is amended by striking subsection (i).
(3) Research program respecting ocean dumping and other
methods of waste disposal report by administrator.--Section
204 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1444) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (b); and
(B) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).
SEC. 3. CONSOLIDATION OR MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN REPORTS.
(a) Marine Safety Report to Congress.--
(1) Consolidation.--Section 2116(d)(2)(B) of title 46,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``under subsection
(b); and'' and inserting ``under subsection (b), which shall
include an identification of--
``(i) the number of civilian and military Coast Guard
personnel assigned to marine safety positions; and
``(ii) marine safety positions that are understaffed for
purposes of facilitating the strategy and achieving the goals
described in subsection (a); and''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--Section 57 of title 14, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (e); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), and (h) as
subsections (e), (f), and (g), respectively.
(b) Maritime Transportation Security Annual Report.--
(1) Consolidation.--Section 70103 of title 46, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Annual Report.--On the date on which the President
submits to Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 of
title 31, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast
Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee on Homeland
Security and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate a report that includes--
``(1) with respect to the last full fiscal year preceding
the report--
``(A) a summary of--
``(i) security standards established pursuant to this
section; and
``(ii) the level of compliance and steps taken to ensure
compliance by ports, terminals, vessel operators, and
shippers with respect to security standards established
pursuant to this section; and
``(B) a statement of the number of--
``(i) security zones established for vessels containing
especially hazardous cargo; and
``(ii) vessels containing especially hazardous cargo
provided a waterborne security escort, subdivided by Federal,
State, local, or private security provider; and
``(2) an assessment of any additional vessels, personnel,
infrastructure, or other resources that may be necessary to
provide waterborne escorts to vessels containing especially
hazardous cargo for which a security zone is established.''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--
(A) Especially hazardous cargo.--Section 70103(e) of title
46, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2)
and inserting the following:
``(2) Especially hazardous cargo defined.--In this
subsection and subsection (f), the term `especially hazardous
cargo' means anhydrous ammonia, ammonium nitrate, chlorine,
liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and any other
substance, material, or group or class of material, in a
particular amount and form that the Secretary determines by
regulation poses a significant risk of creating a
transportation security incident while being transported in
maritime commerce.''.
(B) Vessel and intermodal security reports.--Section 809 of
the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 (46
U.S.C. 70101 note) is amended--
(i) in subsection (a) by striking ``and (j)'' and inserting
``and (i)'';
(ii) by striking subsection (i); and
(iii) by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as
subsections (i) and (j), respectively.
(c) Modifications.--
(1) Infrastructure investment needs report.--Section
503(b)(8)(A) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``July 31, 2013, and July 31'' and inserting ``July
31, 2014, and July 31''.
(2) Reports to congress.--Section 609 of title 23, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) in subsection (a) by striking ``June 1, 2012,'' and
inserting ``June 1, 2014,''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1) by striking ``December 1, 2012,''
and inserting ``December 1, 2014,''.
(3) Public mass transportation systems report.--Section
308(e)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``March 1998, and in March'' and inserting ``July
2014, and in July''.
(4) Evaluation and audit of national transportation safety
board.--Section 1138(a) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``at least annually, but may be
conducted''.
(5) Briefings.--Section 20017(b)(6) of MAP-21 (49 U.S.C.
5324 note; 126 Stat. 706) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A) by inserting after ``the Senate''
the following: ``and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B) by inserting after ``the Senate''
the following: ``and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives''.
SEC. 4. PAPERLESS REPORTS.
(a) Railway-Highway Crossings Annual Report.--Section
130(g) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by
striking the third sentence and inserting the following:
``The Secretary shall make available to the public on the Web
site of the Department of Transportation, not later than
April 1, 2014, and every 2 years thereafter, a report on the
progress being made by the State in implementing projects to
improve railway-highway crossings.''.
(b) National Bridge and Tunnel Inventory Report.--Section
144(d)(1)(B) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``submit to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate'' and
inserting ``make available to the public on the Web site of
the Department of Transportation''.
(c) Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program
Report.--Section 327 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended by striking subsection (i) and inserting the
following:
``(i) Report.--The Secretary shall make available to the
public on the Web site of the Department of Transportation an
annual report that describes the administration of the
program.''.
(d) Highway Safety Programs Biennial Report.--Section
402(n) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``to Congress'' in the subsection heading;
and
(2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking
``submit a report to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
[[Page H40]]
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate'' and inserting ``make available to the public on the
Web site of the Department of Transportation a report''.
(e) In-Vehicle Alcohol Detection Device Research Reports.--
Section 403(h)(4) of title 23, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``submit an annual report to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives, and Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives'' and inserting
``make available to the public on the Web site of the
Department of Transportation an annual report''.
(f) National ITS Program Plan Reporting.--Section 512(b) of
title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking
``submitted'' and all that follows through the period at the
end and inserting ``made available to the public, and updated
biennially, on the Web site of the Department of
Transportation.''.
(g) Advisory Committee Report.--Section 515(h)(4) of title
23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``of each year after the date of enactment
of the Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Act
of 2012,'' and inserting ``, 2014, and biennially
thereafter,'';
(2) by striking ``submit to Congress'' and inserting ``make
available to the public on the Web site of the Department of
Transportation''; and
(3) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``calendar year'' and
inserting ``2 calendar years''.
(h) National Ferry Database Update Report.--Section
1801(e)(3) of SAFETEA-LU (23 U.S.C. 129 note) is amended by
inserting ``and shall make any such modified report available
to the public on the Web site of the Department'' before the
period at the end.
(i) High-Risk Rural Roads Best Practices Report.--Section
1112(b)(2)(A) of MAP-21 (23 U.S.C. 148 note) is amended by
striking ``submit to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives'' and
inserting ``make available to the public on the Web site of
the Department''.
(j) Completion Time Assessment Report.--Section 1323(a)(2)
of MAP-21 (126 Stat. 553) is amended by striking ``submit to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate'' and inserting ``make available
to the public on the Web site of the Department''.
(k) Additional Report.--Section 1323(b) of MAP-21 (126
Stat. 554) is amended by striking ``submit to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate'' and inserting ``make available to the
public on the Web site of the Department''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms.
Esty) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous materials on H.R. 3628.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 3628 eliminates, consolidates, and modifies 27 congressionally
mandated reporting requirements of the executive branch agencies that
fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure.
This bill does not reduce the congressional oversight of the affected
agencies. Instead, it rids the agencies of outdated reporting
requirements that are no longer utilized or have been replaced by
different methods of information collected, thus enabling the agencies
to concentrate on more pressing aspects of their mission.
This legislation also consolidates and modifies certain existing
reporting requirements, bringing consistency across law and regulation,
eliminating duplicative and wasteful efforts, making technical
corrections, and improving the ability of Congress to conduct effective
oversight.
This legislation makes several reporting requirements digital,
resulting in reduced production and delivery cost, expedited delivery,
and more useful and interactive formats. Additionally, the reports will
now be made publicly available, enhancing transparency. According to
the CBO this legislation could reduce the administrative costs of these
agencies.
This legislation is a basic, good-government, fiscally sound bill
that just makes sense. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ESTY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise here today in strong support of H.R. 3628, the Transportation
Reports Elimination Act of 2013. The Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure unanimously reported this bill by voice vote last month.
The Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010
requires the Office of Management and Budget, OMB, to publish a list of
congressionally mandated plans and reports that it considers outdated
or duplicative. On January 8, 2013, OMB published a list of 376 reports
that it proposed for elimination or consolidation.
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reviewed a list of
reports this fall within the committee's jurisdiction and agreed that
some of these reports are indeed outdated or duplicative. H.R. 3628 is
a bipartisan bill that eliminates, consolidates, and modifies 27
congressionally mandated reports.
Madam Speaker, this bill will save taxpayer dollars while improving
government proficiency and performance. The bill eliminates several
reporting requirements that are outdated or duplicative, freeing up
valuable staff resources for the affected agency to perform more
important oversight activities. The bill also consolidates and modifies
certain existing reporting requirements to create greater consistency
across statutes and regulations.
Finally, the bill allows several reports to be posted on the agency's
Web site and not formally submitted to Congress, saving time and
taxpayer dollars. This process will further save taxpayer dollars by
reducing production and delivery of weighty government reports.
Additionally, taxpayers will also benefit from information posted in a
more timely and interactive format, increasing transparency and ease of
access.
This is a bipartisan bill for smarter, cheaper, more transparent
government. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3628,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, again, I appreciate my colleague's
support on this, and, as mentioned, this was reported out of the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure unanimously.
But I also want to point out a couple of these reports just to drive
home the point of how unnecessary some of these reports are, and were,
and that's why we were eliminating them.
For instance, in the Department of Transportation, the Air Traffic
Services Committee Report. The Air Traffic Services Committee has not
met for more than 2 years. As such, no report has been submitted to
Congress in that time. Additionally, since its creation in 2003, many
other committees and boards have created the report and it is no longer
needed. That, for instance, is one.
The Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities Annual Report,
sounds important, is important, but we recommended the elimination by
OMB. This information is online, so it is more timely for Americans to
be able to get online and review this type of report.
The Pilot Program for Innovative Financing of Air Traffic Control
Equipment Annual Report, the report was required to supplement
innovative air traffic control systems being tested 9 years ago. The
tests have long since been completed, and, therefore, there is no
report that is required.
Again, the list goes on and on. The Standards for Aircraft--aircraft
engines to reduce noise levels--Annual Report requires an annual report
in the implementation of new technologies to decrease aircraft noise
levels. Since then, the FAA has updated noise requirements to meet
stage 4 standards; therefore, again, this report is no longer required.
Again, we go through, and there are 27 in total that we have
eliminated. We haven't been quantified as to how much savings, but
there certainly is going to be hundreds of thousands--if not millions--
of dollars saved by eliminating these reports. As I said, many of these
reports you can get online now
[[Page H41]]
and see them quickly and efficiently and the most up-to-date reporting.
And with that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ESTY. Madam Speaker, again, this is one of those ultrarare
instances where we have bipartisan support, where we can save money,
improve efficiency, and have greater transparency and accessibility to
taxpayers.
I wanted to flag just a couple of other items that illustrate this
point.
We are going to be taking up the surface transportation bill, a very
important bill coming up later this year. Well, some of the reports
related to that bill have to do with the infrastructure investment
need. That report has always come at the wrong time. It has come after
we have already looked at the highway transportation bill. So this
bill, among other things, aligns the reports to be available and ready
for Congress, ready for stakeholders, ready for the public to evaluate
at the time we are considering important legislation on behalf of the
American people.
So, again, this is an important initiative. I would urge not only
support for what we have done under Chairman Shuster's excellent
leadership, but for other committees in Congress to join us in
reviewing what the GAO has provided at our request, to review those
lists of agency reports and to find other ways that we can save money,
expedite delivery of important information, both to Congress to
facilitate our oversight as well as to make it available to the public
so they can oversee what we are doing and ensure that we are spending
taxpayer dollars in the most effective way possible.
{time} 1500
Again, I want to thank the chairman for his leadership on this and
many other initiatives. It is a wonderful committee. We have important
work to do, and this will help us get that work done.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from Connecticut
for her kind words and for all of her hard work on the committee. We
have been working very hard in a bipartisan manner. There aren't many
things in this Congress that really bring people together; but when it
comes to transportation and infrastructure, that is certainly one of
them. We will continue to work together.
Again, this bill is a good-government bill. I urge all of my
colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3628, which again eliminates and
consolidates 27 congressionally mandated reports. It is good
government, saves money, and increases transparency.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3628.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________