HR 880Transportation and Public Works
Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act This bill allows the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to assess civil penalties against motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders for violations related to the interstate transportation of household goods and provides states with additional related authorities. As background, a broker is the “middle person” between a shipper and a motor carrier and arranges for the transportation of household goods. A freight forwarder organizes shipments for individuals or corporations. Unlike a broker, freight forwarders assume responsibility for transportation and may transport the freight itself. The bill expands the FMCSA registration requirements to require motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders to designate a principal place of business (i.e., a single physical location where management officials report to work, a significant portion of the transportation business is conducted, and records are maintained). FMCSA may withhold, suspend, amend, or revoke any part of a registration for failure to designate. In addition, brokers and freight forwarders must disclose any common ownership, management, control, or familial relationship with any other carrier, freight forwarder, broker, or applicant in the previous three years. Under current law, motor carriers must disclose this information. Further, states may use certain grant funds to enforce federal household goods statutes and regulations for the interstate transportation of these goods by motor carriers and brokers. This applies to Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grant funds and MCSAP High Priority discretionary grant funds. A state shall retain collected fines that are a result of enforcement.
Introduced Jan 31, 2025Updated Feb 1, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
HR 851Transportation and Public Works
DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish the position of National Roadway Safety Advocate to work directly with victims and survivors of road crashes and their families (i.e., stakeholders). Specifically, the purposes of the advocate are to (1) document and communicate recommendations from stakeholders to DOT on the needs, objectives, plans, approaches, content, and accomplishments of DOT's roadway safety programs and activities; and (2) serve as a resource and point of contact for stakeholders on relevant roadway safety issues. The bill specifies that the advocate position must be filled by a career appointment. The bill prohibits the advocate from taking certain actions, such as creating or authorizing DOT policies, priorities, or activities; or disclosing or discussing any enforcement matters that are under investigation or in litigation. The advocate must submit an annual report to DOT highlighting systemic issues relating to roadway safety based on information provided by stakeholders. The report must include recommendations on how to remedy the issues.
Introduced Jan 31, 2025Updated Feb 1, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
HR 623Transportation and Public Works
Licensing Individual Commercial Exam-takers Now Safely and Efficiently Act of 2025 or the LICENSE Act of 2025 This bill requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCA) to revise regulations to relax certain requirements related to commercial driver's license (CDL) testing. Specifically, the FMCA must allow a state or third-party examiner who has maintained a valid CDL test examiner certification and has previously completed a CDL skills test examiner training course to administer the CDL knowledge test, so long as they have completed one unit of instruction regarding the CDL knowledge test. The FMCA must also allow a state to administer a driving skills test to any CDL applicant regardless of the applicant's state of domicile or where the applicant received driver training. As background, the FMCA implemented temporary waivers for similar CDL testing-related requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These waivers have since expired.
Introduced Jan 22, 2025Updated Jan 23, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
HR 502Transportation and Public Works
Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act This bill modifies the definition of rural area that is used for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program and adds provisions for small communities. As background, the grant program supports projects that improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas. Eligible applicants for the grant program include states, regional transportation planning organizations, local governments, and tribal governments. For purposes of the program, the bill defines rural area as an area outside an urbanized area that has a population of 30,000 or less. Current law requires a rural area to be outside of an urbanized area with a population of over 200,000. The bill includes provisions for small communities (i.e., an area outside an urbanized area and that has a population of 5,000 or less). The bill sets the maximum federal cost-share at 90% for project grants carried out in a small community. The Department of Transportation (DOT) must use at least 5% of the program's annual funds to provide grants for projects in small communities. The bill also removes the prohibition against DOT using more than 10% of program funds for grants that are under $25 million. Further, program grants may be used for highway, road, bridge, or tunnel projects that would benefit the economic development or quality of life for citizens of the local community. The bill also specifies that the program's goals include the generation of economic growth and development in rural areas.
Introduced Jan 16, 2025Updated Jan 17, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
HR 546Crime and Law Enforcement
Investing in Safer Traffic Stops Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of Justice to establish a grant program for state, local, or tribal government entities to ensure that the enforcement of traffic violations is carried out by a civilian or traffic monitoring technology instead of a law enforcement officer.
Introduced Jan 16, 2025Updated Jan 17, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
HR 352Transportation and Public Works
Motorist Tax Abuse Act This bill prohibits the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) from establishing or maintaining cordon pricing for the Central Business District Tolling Program for New York City under the FHWA's Value Pricing Pilot Program. The New York program charges drivers a toll to enter an area in Manhattan designated as the Congestion Relief Zone. In general, cordon pricing is a form of congestion pricing that includes a zone-based pricing system that involves either variable or fixed charges to drive within or into a congested area within a city.
Introduced Jan 13, 2025Updated Jan 14, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
HR 344Transportation and Public Works
Anti-Congestion Tax Act This bill prohibits the Department of Transportation (DOT) from awarding capital investment grants to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for projects in New York until DOT certifies that vehicles using certain crossings to enter into Manhattan's congestion tolling zone receive exemptions from congestion tolls. The vehicular crossings include the Holland Tunnel, the Lincoln Tunnel, the George Washington Bridge, and any other crossing immediately before entry into the congestion tolling zone. As background, the MTA's Central Business District Tolling Program for New York City charges drivers a toll to enter an area in Manhattan designated as the Congestion Relief Zone. Under the bill, c ongestion tolling zone generally means any roadways, bridges, tunnels, approaches, or ramps that are located within, or enter to, the Congestion Relief Zone, with some modifications. Specifically, the bill requires the MTA to credit a vehicle for the vehicular crossing toll from the amount of the congestion toll charged to the vehicle for entering the congestion tolling zone. Further, the bill allows drivers entering Manhattan using any of the vehicular crossings immediately before entry into the congestion tolling zone to receive a federal tax credit at the end of the year equal to the amount paid in congestion tolls for using the crossing.
Introduced Jan 13, 2025Updated Jan 14, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
HR 351Transportation and Public Works
This bill prohibits the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) from establishing or maintaining a value pricing program under the FHWA's Value Pricing Pilot Program that includes value pricing, congestion pricing, or cordon pricing. In general, value pricing, also referred to as congestion pricing, includes a variety of strategies to manage congestion on highways and surface streets (e.g., charging drivers on congested roadways during peak periods). Cordon pricing is a form of congestion pricing that includes a zone-based pricing system that involves either variable or fixed charges to drive within or into a congested area within a city.
Introduced Jan 13, 2025Updated Jan 14, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.