[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1145
                       EXPAND SAFE TRUCK PARKING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Bost) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a family trucking business, a 
company that I worked with for years, and I spent my years driving over 
the road. I knew the challenges our truck drivers faced: Time 
pressures, lack of sleep, and nowhere to stop for the night.
  When I came to Congress, I joined the House Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee and made it a top priority to expand access 
for safe truck parking.
  Now, I knew we had a threat to public safety when exhausted truck 
drivers pushed that extra mile just to end up sleeping on the highway 
shoulder on an off-ramp because there is not enough space in our rest 
areas. Critics who didn't understand the issue said it wasn't a 
priority, and they asked why they should care.
  Well, early yesterday morning, a Greyhound bus traveling from 
Indianapolis to St. Louis veered into the shoulder of an off-ramp in 
Madison County, Illinois. Parked on the off-ramp were three tractor 
trailers and the drivers resting inside.
  Three passengers on the bus were killed. Over a dozen were injured. 
It is a tragedy that didn't have to happen.
  I have introduced legislation to direct existing Federal funding to 
build more truck parking spaces. I am hopeful that we get the Truck 
Parking Safety Improvement Act signed into law. Let's act before we 
have another tragedy.
  My prayers are with the families and the victims of this accident.

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