Surface Transportation Reauthorization

H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastrucutre Jobs Act of 2011 

House Transportation Committee Passes Transportation Bill
February 3, 2012  

After nearly 16 hours of debate, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Acts on a vote of 29-24. The bill is a five-year bill that provides funding for our nation’s road and transit projects, with the funding from the increased revenues of American Energy development.

The most contentious debate occurred over an amendment offered by Congressman Lou Barletta (R-11^th/PA) and Congressman Jerry Costello (D-12^th/IL) that would require the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a three year study on the safety concerns, cost associated with, and adverse effects on our nation’s highways and bridges by increasing the truck weight limit to 88,000 pounds with five axles and 97,000 pounds with six axles. The amendment passed on a vote of 33-22. The original language read that it was at the States discretions to allow the heavier trucks to operate on its roads and highways. In 1991, Congress established the current weight limit at 80,000 pounds.

The bill also requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on the 34-hour restart rule of the Hours of Services Final Rule that was published on December 27, 2011. The provision limits the restart to once a week with two sleep periods from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. If the study supports the provision, the rule will take effect as promulgated by the rule on July 1, 2013. If the study does not support the provision, it would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to conduct a rulemaking to modify the rule based on the results of the study. The study must be completed by March 31, 2013.

The TIA, ATA, and OOIDA support language that seeks to eliminate fraud in the marketplace is included as part of the bill. The language would raise the broker and forwarder bond to $100,000 and clarify that other entities need the necessary registration, licensing and financial requirements in order to broker freight. You can view the Fighting Fraud in Transportation Act questions and answers document and the white paper on the TIA Government Affairs website.

The bill is only in the preliminary stages of becoming law. The bill is scheduled to be considered on the House floor later this month. If passed in the House, then there will need to be a conference with the Senate. The Senate bill is drastically different in terms of the years of funding and funding sources. It will be an uphill battle for this legislation to become law, since it contains a lot of contentious issues, including the Keystone XL Pipeline.     

** House Bipartisan Letter to President Obama in Support of Long-Term Transportation Reauthorization

** House Transportation & Infrastrucutre - Summary of Proposal

** Senate Environment & Public Works - Summary of S. 1813 

• Summary of Committee Transportation Reauthorization Proposal
• July 7, 2011 Press Release: Transportation Committee Leaders Roll Out Reauthorization Proposal
• Video of July 7th Rollout

The previous transportation law expired in October 2009.  Current funding authority for these programs is provided under H.R. 662, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011.  This legislation extends programs through the end of fiscal year 2011 and was signed into law on March 4, 2011.