[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 116 (Thursday, July 23, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S5552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2316. Mr. TOOMEY (for himself and Mr. Merkley) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 22, to amend 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt employees with health 
coverage under TRICARE or the Veterans Administration from being taken 
into account for purposes of determining the employers to which the 
employer mandate applies under the Patient Protection and Affordable 
Care Act; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. GRANTS TO STATES.

       Chapter 311 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in section 31101--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as 
     paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively;
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) `covered farm vehicle' means a motor vehicle 
     (including an articulated motor vehicle)--
       ``(A) that--
       ``(i) is registered or otherwise designated by the State 
     for use in, or transportation activities related to, the 
     operation of farms;
       ``(ii) is equipped with a special registration plate or 
     other State-issued designation to allow for identification of 
     the vehicle as a farm vehicle by law enforcement personnel;
       ``(iii) is traveling in the State of registration or 
     designation or in another State;
       ``(iv) is operated by--

       ``(I) a farm owner or operator;
       ``(II) a ranch owner or operator; or
       ``(III) an employee or family member of an individual 
     specified in subclause (I) or (II);

       ``(v) is transporting to or from a farm or ranch--

       ``(I) agricultural commodities;
       ``(II) livestock;
       ``(III) agricultural supplies; or
       ``(IV) machinery, including machinery being transported for 
     the purpose of performance of agricultural production 
     activity or for the purpose of servicing or repairing the 
     item being transported;

       ``(vi) is not used in the operations of a for-hire motor 
     carrier;
       ``(vii) has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle 
     weight, whichever is greater, that is--

       ``(I) 26,001 pounds or less; or
       ``(II) greater than 26,001 pounds and is traveling within 
     the State of registration or designation or within 150 air 
     miles of the farm or ranch with respect to which the vehicle 
     is being operated; and

       ``(viii) is not transporting materials that require a 
     placard; or
       ``(B) that--
       ``(i) meets the requirements under subparagraph (A) (other 
     than clause (vi) of such subparagraph);
       ``(ii) is operated pursuant to a crop share farm lease 
     agreement;
       ``(iii) is owned by a tenant with respect to that 
     agreement; and
       ``(iv) is transporting the landlord's portion of the crops 
     under that agreement.''; and
       (2) in section 31102--
       (A) in subsection (b)(2)(E), by striking the period at the 
     end and inserting a semicolon;
       (B) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
       (C) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
       ``(e) Limitation of Authority; State Standards for Covered 
     Farm Vehicles and Drivers.--The Secretary may not terminate, 
     reduce, limit, or otherwise interfere with the amount or 
     timing of grants that a State is otherwise eligible to 
     receive under this title or title 23 as a result of any 
     minimum standard or exemption provided by the State for a 
     covered farm vehicle or the driver of such vehicle that is 
     less stringent than the requirements for commercial motor 
     vehicles and drivers established under title 49, Code of 
     Federal Regulations, including requirements pertaining to--
       ``(1) controlled substances and alcohol use and testing;
       ``(2) commercial driver's licensing;
       ``(3) driver qualifications;
       ``(4) medical certifications;
       ``(5) driving and operating commercial vehicles;
       ``(6) parts and accessories for the safe operation of 
     commercial vehicles;
       ``(7) the maximum hours of service of drivers;
       ``(8) vehicle inspection repair and maintenance;
       ``(9) employee safety and health standards; and
       ``(10) recordkeeping related to compliance with such 
     standards.''.
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