COMMON CARRIERS see also Aviation; Cargo Transportation; Motor Vehicles; Railroads; Transportation

Amendments

Railroads: reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs (H.R. 749), H1585, H1593, H1594, H1595, H1596, H1597, H1599 [4MR]

Articles and editorials

Amtrak Trains Often Trickle Into Toledo After Rash of Delays, H1580 [4MR]

Solutions Sought for Chronic Amtrak, Freight Train Delays in Northern Ohio, H1581 [4MR]

Bills and resolutions

Amtrak: propose a pet policy that allows passengers to transport domesticated cats and dogs on certain trains (see S. 1087), S2431 [27AP] (see H.R. 674), H754 [3FE]

Antitrust policy: provide expanded coverage and eliminate certain exemptions relative to railroads (see S. 1634), S4298 [18JN]

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection: submit a report on cross-border rail security (see H.R. 2786), H4382 [15JN]

Dept. of Homeland Security: prohibit the Transportation Security Administration from performing security screening operations for surface transportation (see H.R. 115), H39 [6JA]

Dept. of the Treasury: establish regional infrastructure accelerator program to facilitate investment in and financing of certain infrastructure projects (see H.R. 2485), H3506 [20MY]

Dept. of Transportation: amend the Transportation Alternatives Program (see S. 705), S1438 [11MR]

——— authorize elements to enhance safety, provide regulatory relief, streamline grant programs, and improve accountability and efficiency of oversight efforts (see S. 1732), S4953 [9JY]

——— authorize States to enter into interstate compacts to standardize requirements for commercial driver’s licenses (see S. 1672), S4602 [24JN] (see H.R. 3283), H5762 [29JY]

——— carry out transit accessibility innovation program (see H.R. 1448), H1769 [18MR]

——— develop performance measures for assessing transportation connectivity and accessibility for highway and public transportation systems (see H.R. 3788), H7089 [21OC]

——— enhance transportation programs to connect people to jobs, schools, and other essential services through a multimodal transportation network (see S. 2008), S6434 [6AU]

——— establish a bus state of good repair program (see S. 1813), S5210 [21JY]

——— extend the positive train control system implementation deadline (see S. 650), S1302 [4MR] (see H.R. 3651), H6748 [30SE]

——— incentivize early adoption of positive train control (see S. 1006), S2245 [16AP]

——— increase certain penalties relative to commercial motor vehicle safety (see H.R. 3887), H7623 [3NO]

——— prescribe a motor vehicle safety standard requiring commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with a forward collision avoidance and mitigation braking system (see H.R. 3536), H6136 [17SE]

——— prohibit increasing minimum levels of financial responsibility requirements established for motor carriers for the transportation of passengers or property (see H.R. 2077), H2497 [28AP]

——— provide Federal support to increase public transportation ridership by college students (see S. 2433), S8883 [18DE]

——— provide improved investment in national transportation infrastructure (see S. 1748), S4953 [9JY]

——— provide sole authority to appoint Federal Directors to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors (see S. 2093), S7005 [29SE]

——— recognize hair as an alternative specimen for preemployment and random controlled substances testing of commercial motor vehicle drivers (see S. 806), S1660 [19MR] (see H.R. 1467), H1801 [19MR]

——— repeal the Transportation Alternatives Program (see H.R. 2609), H3757 [2JN]

——— streamline the permitting process for rail and transit infrastructure (see S. 769), S1628 [18MR]

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: change implementation of Compliance, Safety, Accountability initiative relative to trucking company safety records (see H.R. 3093), H5290 [16JY]

——— improve the Compliance, Safety, Accountability initiative (see H.R. 1371), H1661 [16MR]

——— reform (see S. 1669), S4602 [24JN]

Federal Railroad Administration: improve Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (see S. 797), S1659 [19MR]

——— make loans and loan guarantees available for implementing positive train control systems (see H.R. 946), H1034 [12FE]

Infrastructure: improve (see S. 268), S541 [27JA]

Motor vehicles: provide that over-the-road bus drivers are covered under maximum hours of service regulations (see S. 2322), S8160 [19NO]

National School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day: designate (see H. Res. 107), H982 [11FE]

National School Bus Safety Week: designate (see H. Res. 107), H982 [11FE]

Railroads: ensure safety (see H.R. 1405), H1721 [17MR]

——— identify certain dangerous railroad locations and ensure safety of passenger operations at such locations (see H.R. 4050), H8280 [17NO]

——— improve highway-rail grade crossing safety (see S. 532), S1031 [23FE] (see H.R. 1291), H1611 [4MR]

——— reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs (see H.R. 749), H852 [5FE]

——— reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs, improve safety, and streamline rail project delivery (see S. 1626), S4298 [18JN]

——— reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs (H.R. 749), consideration (see H. Res. 134), H1524 [2MR]

Roads and highways: extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs (see H.R. 3763), H7026 [20OC] (see H.R. 3819), H7174 [23OC] (see H.R. 3996), H8239 [16NO]

Taxation: extend the parity between exclusion from income for employer-provided mass transit and parking benefits (see H.R. 1046), H1113 [24FE]

——— phaseout Highway Trust Fund Mass Transit Account (see H.R. 1551), H1848 [23MR]

Transportation: coordinate services for transportation-disadvantaged individuals (see H.R. 4082), H8410 [19NO]

——— ensure that all transportation system users can travel safely and conveniently on and across federally funded streets and highways (see H.R. 2071), H2497 [28AP]

Veterans: provide discounted fares on public transportation (see H.R. 127), H40 [6JA] (see H.R. 1645), H2107 [26MR]

Virginia: authorize project development to extend Metrorail service in Northern Virginia (see H.R. 779), H854 [5FE]

Conference reports

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (H.R. 22), H8679–H8822 [1DE]

Explanations

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (H.R. 22): Payments From Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to Certified States and Indian Tribes, H8997 [3DE]

Letters

California high-speed rail projects funding: several organizations, H3984, H3985 [9JN]

Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act: James Corless, Transportation for America (organization), S6115 [29JY]

Dept. of Transportation positive train control system implementation deadline extension: Doug Allen, Virginia Railway Express, S6115 [29JY]

——— Michael P. Melaniphy, American Public Transportation Association, S6115 [29JY]

Multimodal freight network establishment: Kurt Nagle, American Association of Port Authorities, S5913 [27JY]

Railroad Safety and Positive Train Control Extension Act: Daniel R. Elliott III, Surface Transportation Board, S7018 [30SE]

——— Don Orseno, METRA (commuter rail system), S7016 [30SE]

——— Lance M. Fritz, Union Pacific Corp, S7017 [30SE]

States’ option of increasing the truck weight limits on their Interstate Highways: Andrew Matthews, National Troopers Coalition, H7406 [3NO]

Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act: Representative Lamar Smith, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (House), E1600 [5NO]

——— Representative Shuster, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House), E1600 [5NO]

Lists

Victims of Fort Pierce, FL, Independent Haitian Assembly of God bus accident, H2131 [13AP]

Motions

Railroads: reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs (H.R. 749), H1601 [4MR]

Remarks in House

Amtrak: Amtrak Police Dept., equipment and veterans hiring initiative funding, H1601 [4MR]

——— ensure consideration of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses requests for proposals for station development opportunities, H1593 [4MR]

——— establish a Northeast Corridor Express Service, H1594, H1595 [4MR], E323 [13MR]

——— positive train control system implementation funding, H3996, H3997 [9JN]

——— propose a pet policy that allows passengers to transport domesticated cats and dogs on certain trains, H1534 [3MR], H1583, H1584 [4MR]

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection: submit a report on cross-border rail security (H.R. 2786), H6284 [28SE]

Buy American Act: strengthen requirements applicable to airports, highways, high-speed rail, trains, and transit, H6824 [6OC]

Denver, CO: tribute to Denver Regional Transportation District for participation in Stand Up 4 Transportation Day, E611 [29AP]

Dept. of Transportation: allow all States to compete for bus and bus facility funding and transfer the funds to the nationwide Competitive Bus Grants, H7685 [4NO]

——— allow transit systems to retain flexibility in the use of Federal transit formula grants, H3973–H3975 [9JN]

——— California high-speed rail projects funding, H3984, H3985 [9JN], H4247 [12JN]

——— cancel pilot program to authorize teen truck drivers to obtain a commercial driver’s license to drive trucks across State lines, H7672, H7673 [4NO]

——— conduct study on safety of double-decker motorcoaches equipped with luggage carriers on the rear of the vehicle, H7599 [3NO]

——— extend the positive train control system implementation deadline, H7211–H7214 [27OC]

——— Federal Railroad Administration Operation Lifesaver program funding through reductions in FAA operations account funding, H3839 [3JN]

——— Federal Railroad Administration safety and operations funding through reductions in Federal Transit Administration New Starts program funding, H3847 [3JN]

——— Federal Transit Administration capital investment grants funding, H3852 [3JN]

——— Federal Transit Administration capital investment grants funding through reductions in FAA operations account funding, H3840, H3841 [3JN]

——— Federal Transit Administration mass transit new starts capital investment grants funding, H3853 [3JN]

——— freight program small project funding, H7605 [3NO]

——— Houston, TX, commuter light rail funding, H3975 [9JN]

——— increase penalties for drivers who knowingly operate a commercial vehicle that has a serious defect that results in a fatal crash, H7686 [4NO]

——— positive train control system implementation funding, H3315, H3338, H3339 [19MY]

——— prohibit funding for streetcar projects, H7668, H7669 [4NO]

——— prohibit funding to finance a passenger rail project in Florida, H3891 [4JN]

——— provide sole authority to appoint Federal Directors to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors, H7670 [4NO]

——— require Federal Interagency Coordination Council on Access and Mobility report on ability of senior citizens and people with disabilities to access public transportation, H7638 [4NO]

——— submit report on Federal Railroad Administration development of system to measure vertical track deflection, E1617 [16NO]

——— suspend Federal funding for California high-speed rail project, H149 [8JA], H193 [12JA], H8247 [17NO]

FAA: prohibit funding exempting Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, CA, from implementing a nighttime curfew, H3894 [4JN]

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: continue development, issuance, or implementation of regulations that increase minimum financial responsibility for transporting passengers or property, H3844, H3845 [3JN]

——— reform commercial truck insurance requirement, prohibit hiring motor carriers defined as high-risk carriers, and make compliance, safety, and accountability scores available to the public, H7671 [4NO]

Fort Pierce, FL: offer condolences to families of victims of bus accident involving Independent Haitian Assemby of God members, H2131 [13AP]

GAO: conduct a study to evaluate effectiveness of Federal Railroad Administration rule on use of locomotive horns at rail crossings, H1596, H1597 [4MR]

House of Representatives: tribute to staff who worked on H.R. 22, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, H8996 [3DE]

Logan, UT: Cache Valley Transit District recipient of Community Transportation Association Excellence in Motion award, H3773 [3JN]

Motor vehicles: allow for a limited number of automobile transporter vehicles to increase their length, H7619 [3NO]

——— give States the option of increasing the truck weight limits on their Interstate Highways, H7405, H7406, H7409 [3NO]

National Bar Association: tribute to Civil Rights Commemoration Tour honoring role of Black lawyers during Montgomery, AL, bus boycott and civil rights movement, E1684 [1DE]

Railroads: develop a grade crossing action plan, identify specific solutions for improving safety, and focus on crossings that have experienced recent or multiple accidents or are a high risk for accidents, H1595, H1596 [4MR]

——— ensure safety (H.R. 1405), H3315 [19MY]

——— include veteran-owned small businesses in small business participation study included in passenger rail program reauthorization, H1594 [4MR]

——— reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs (H.R. 749), H1578–H1603 [4MR], H1708 [17MR], E323 [13MR]

——— reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs (H.R. 749), consideration (H. Res. 134), H1531–H1535 [3MR]

——— reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs (H.R. 749), motion to recommit, H1601 [4MR]

Roads and highways: continue weight exemptions for trucks operating on certain segments of Texas State highways being converted into Interstate 69, H7615 [3NO]

——— extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs, H7272 [28OC], H7394, H7403–H7621 [3NO], H7633, H7641–H7740 [4NO], H8865 [2DE], H8974, H8975–H8983, H8988–H9000 [3DE], E1607, E1608, E1609, E1611 [5NO], E1715, E1716 [7DE], E1735 [8DE], E1758 [10DE], E1834 [18DE]

——— extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs (H.R. 3763), H7169 [23OC]

——— extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs (H.R. 3819), H7197, H7200, H7207–H7214, H7244 [27OC], E1550 [27OC]

——— extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs (H.R. 3996), H8213–H8217 [16NO]

Taxation: extend the parity between exclusion from income for employer-provided mass transit and parking benefits (H.R. 1046), E238 [24FE]

Toledo, OH: anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr., Plaza Train Terminal, E1347 [24SE]

Transportation: authorize highway infrastructure and safety, transit, motor carrier, rail, and other surface transportation programs, H1704–H1710 [17MR], H1961 [25MR]

——— improve infrastructure, H7014–H7016 [20OC]

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: funding, H3854, H3855 [3JN]

——— strike waiver to requirement for full cellular communication service in the Metrorail system, H3853, H3854 [3JN]

Remarks in Senate

Amtrak: funding, S2833 [13MY], S2898 [14MY]

Dept. of Transportation: authorize elements to enhance safety, provide regulatory relief, streamline grant programs, and improve accountability and efficiency of oversight efforts (S. 1732), S5092 [15JY]

——— establish multimodal freight network, S5912–S5914 [27JY]

——— extend the positive train control system implementation deadline, S5092 [15JY], S6115 [29JY], S7570, S7574, S7576–S7580, S7586, S7587 [28OC], S7887 [10NO]

——— extend the positive train control system implementation deadline (S. 650), S1889 [25MR], S2164 [14AP], S7014–S7018 [30SE]

——— incentivize early adoption of positive train control (S. 1006), S2252 [16AP]

——— positive train control system implementation funding, S2833 [13MY], S2898 [14MY]

——— provide sole authority to appoint Federal Directors to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors, S8063 [18NO]

——— streamline the permitting process for rail and transit infrastructure, S6114 [29JY]

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: ensure public disclosure of certain compliance, safety, and accountability motor carrier data, S6124 [29JY]

Federal Railroad Administration: improve Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program, S6114 [29JY]

——— improve Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (S. 797), S1662 [19MR]

——— make loans and loan guarantees available for implementing positive train control systems (H.R. 946), S6113 [29JY]

Infrastructure: improve, S2829, S2833 [13MY]

——— improve (S. 268), S518 [27JA]

——— improvement funding through closing certain tax loopholes for offshore corporations, S1696, S1698, S1701–S1703 [23MR], S1742, S1748–S1750 [24MR], S2205 [15AP], S2625 [5MY]

International trade: establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relative to supporting trade and travel at ports of entry, S1966 [26MR]

Railroads: finalize rules that increase safety standards for train cars, S1434 [11MR]

——— reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs, S2837 [13MY]

——— reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs, improve safety, and streamline rail project delivery, S6113 [29JY], S8758, S8759 [17DE]

——— reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs, improve safety, and streamline rail project delivery (S. 1626), S4642 [25JN]

——— reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs (H.R. 749), S1380 [10MR]

Roads and highways: extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs, S8227 [1DE], S8335, S8357–S8369 [3DE], S8428 [7DE], S8565 [10DE], S8660 [15DE], S8758, S8759 [17DE]

——— extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs (H.R. 3819), S7484 [26OC], S7567, S7570, S7574–S7580, S7586, S7587 [28OC]

——— extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs (H.R. 3819), unanimous-consent agreement, S7574 [28OC]

——— extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs (H.R. 3819), unanimous-consent request, S7574 [28OC]

——— extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs (H.R. 3996), S8030 [18NO]

——— extend Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other Highway Trust Fund-funded programs (H.R. 3996), unanimous-consent agreement, S8126 [19NO]

Senate: tribute to Members and staff who worked on H.R. 22, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, S8360 [3DE]

Transportation: establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to encourage freight planning and investment that incorporates all modes of transportation, including rail, waterways, ports, and highways to promote national connectivity, S1983 [26MR]

Reports filed

Consideration of Conference Report on H.R. 22, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 546) (H. Rept. 114–360), H8970 [2DE]

Consideration of H.R. 749, Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 134) (H. Rept. 114–36), H1524 [2MR]

Cross-Border Rail Security Act: Committee on Homeland Security (House) (H.R. 2786) (H. Rept. 114–233), H5587 [28JY]

Dept. of Transportation Sole Authority To Appoint Federal Directors to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 2093) (S. Rept. 114–170), S8191 [30NO]

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act: Committee of Conference (H.R. 22) (H. Rept. 114–357), H8859 [1DE]

Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House) (H.R. 749) (H. Rept. 114–30), H1367 [26FE]

Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House) (H.R. 3763) (H. Rept. 114–318), H7346 [29OC]

Statements

Goods Movement Coalition Applauds Commerce Freight Policy, Calls for Freight Funding: Elaine Nessle, Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors, S5913 [27JY]

Summaries

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (H.R. 22), H8990–H8992 [3DE]

Texts of

H. Res. 134, consideration of H.R. 749, Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act and clarify House proceedings and actions during March district work period, H1531 [3MR]

H. Res. 507, consideration of Senate amendments to H.R. 22, Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, H7403 [3NO]

H. Res. 512, consideration of Senate amendments to H.R. 22, Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, H7641 [4NO]

H. Res. 546, consideration of conference report on H.R. 22, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, H8975 [3DE]

H.R. 2786, Cross-Border Rail Security Act, H6284 [28SE]

H.R. 3819, Surface Transportation Extension Act, H7207–H7211 [27OC]

H.R. 3996, Surface Transportation Extension Act, Part II, H8213–H8216 [16NO]