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Released: January 29, 2009
House Approves Stimulus Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives approved an $819 billion economic stimulus bill Wednesday, legislation that includes more than $46 billion for transportation spending. It included $30 billion in highway funding, $12 billion for mass transit, $3 billion for airports, and $1.1 billion for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail. Only about 5% of the stimulus package is dedicated to infrastructure such as highway, mass transit and rail projects—key concerns for NASSTRAC members and the over-the-road transportation industry at large.
The relatively low funding level has prompted some Democratic supporters to complain that transportation spending was cut by Republicans in favor of more tax cuts, and by advisers to President Obama who shifted the bill’s priorities to help get the measure passed, the paper said. However, House Republican Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, blasted the legislation, and noted that it did not receive a single Republican vote. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), who chairs the House Transportation Committee’s highways and transit subcommittee, was reportedly angry about the reduction in transportation spending and has said that Obama’s top economic adviser, Lawrence Summers, “hates infrastructure,” according to a report by the Boston Globe.
Another perspective? "For years, state departments of transportation and transit agencies around the country have said 'Give us the money. We have the projects. We can get things going,'" Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., said. "Well here is their opportunity." The legislation, which now goes before the Senate, was approved by a vote of 244-188.
Senate Confirms LaHood
The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of former Illinois Republican Rep. Raymond LaHood as Transportation Secretary on Jan. 22. LaHood took the oath of office last Friday, Jan. 23. Assistant Secretary for Administration Linda Washington administered the oath of office before an audience of his new staff and members of the Department of Transportation transition team. During a hearing last week, LaHood said his priorities for the DOT include solving a long-running dispute between air traffic controllers and the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as finding a new funding mechanism for the Highway Trust Fund—the main source of funding for highways and bridges.
FMCSA Denies HOS Appeal
The Bush administration, in its final hours, strongly denied a request to overturn its controversial driver hours-of-service rule, leaving the twice-rejected measure in place. John Hill, outgoing head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, turned down an appeal by a coalition of safety groups as one of his last actions before leaving office. In a letter dated Jan. 16, Hill stated that in the five years since the new rule went into effect, “the significant increase in truck crashes and fatalities that one would have anticipated, based on petitioners’ criticisms, has simply failed to occur.”
There is speculation that the opposition coalition is considering options, which includes lobbying the Obama administration and more legal action. Federal courts have twice sent the rule back to FMCSA after agreeing with the coalition’s lawsuits challenging the agency’s changes to the 60-year-old hours-of-service rule. The coalition opposed the rule’s daily one-hour driving-time extension and the provision allowing drivers to reset their weekly driving limit after a 34-hour rest. The coalition includes the Teamsters union, Public Citizen, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Truck Safety Coalition, a partnership of Parents Against Tired Truckers and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways.
The revised rule increased the daily driving limit to 11 hours from 10, cut drivers’ total working time to 14 hours a day from 15, and allowed drivers to reset their weekly hours allotment by being off-duty 34 consecutive hours. In the past, opponents have argued that the agency had not supported its changes with adequate research, but Hill said FMCSA research “fully supported” the new rule. NASSTRAC has supported FMCSA’s ruling. |
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