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501 records in US in 2023
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2023
Train Noise and Vibrations Reduction Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Transportation to develop and submit to Congress a report containing recommendations to reduce train noise and vibrations near homes and estimates of the costs and benefits of such recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
This resolution acknowledges members of the Coast Guard for providing maritime border security and congratulates them on their service.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2023 This bill addresses Coast Guard operations, maritime security, and related matters. The bill authorizes for FY2024 and FY2025 the Coast Guard's active-duty personnel and military training student levels and activities related to information technology, environmental compliance, and other purposes. The bill authorizes the Coast Guard to suspend a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's credential if it has probable cause to believe that an individual poses a threat to others on a vessel. Further, the bill extends existing vessel registry requirements prohibiting foreign ownership to vessels supporting alternate energy production or transmission or commercial space exploration activities over the Outer Continental Shelf. Among other provisions, the bill also requires the Coast Guard to provide ballast water quality data to any state or territory upon request; establishes the felony crime of grossly negligent operation of a vessel when conduct results in serious bodily injury; authorizes the President to direct or control foreign-flag vessels when a cyber incident, transnational organized crime, or foreign state threats endanger U.S. security; and authorizes the Coast Guard to respond to cyber incidents, transnational organized crime, or foreign state threats to prevent damage to structures located on and near navigable waters. The bill also modifies the minimum requirements for various merchant mariner credentials, including by reducing certain service time prerequisites and extending eligibility to noncitizen nationals of the United States. (Generally, individuals who receive U.S. nationality by virtue of being born in, or having parents who were born in, the U.S. outlying possessions are U.S. nationals but not U.S. citizens.)
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking Act or the FIGHT Act This bill expands protections of animals provided under the Animal Welfare Act, including by prohibiting any (1) broadcasts from international, interstate, or intrastate sources of animal fighting ventures in the United States or U.S. territories; and (2) shipments or transport of certain mature roosters.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act This bill establishes targets and standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from airplane flights and provides incentives for the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel. Specifically, this bill establishes a national goal to achieve a net 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from flights by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2050. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must establish a low carbon fuel standard for aviation fuels. Under the standard, the EPA must set annual targets in order to reduce certain greenhouse gas emissions associated with aviation fuel by at least (1) 20% by 2030, and (2) 50% by 2050. Beginning in FY2025, the Department of Defense must make a bulk purchase of an amount of sustainable aviation fuel that is not less than 10% of the total amount of aviation fuel procured for operational purposes. Additionally, the Department of Transportation must implement a program that offers grants and cost-sharing agreements for projects to produce, transport, blend, or store sustainable aviation fuel. The projects must be located in the United States. Finally, the bill provides tax credits for the production of sustainable aviation fuel.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Defense to seek to expand military cybersecurity cooperation with the government of Taiwan. Such cooperation may include (1) efforts to protect military networks, infrastructure, and installations; and (2) cybersecurity training activities and exercises.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Conversion Act of 2023 This bill requires the U.S. government to redirect resources away from nuclear weapons if other countries take steps to eliminate such weapons. Specifically, after the President certifies that all countries possessing nuclear weapons have begun the verifiable and irreversible elimination of such weapons under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the U.S. government must redirect resources being used for nuclear weapons programs to (1) addressing the climate crisis, (2) addressing human and infrastructure needs, and (3) encouraging other countries to pursue similar goals.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
This bill designates any public airport in use by an air reserve station as a primary airport for purposes of additional funding through the Airport Improvement Program, which funds airport infrastructure projects. Under current law, a primary airport is generally a commercial service airport that has more than 10,000 passenger boardings each year.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Defense to seek to expand military cybersecurity cooperation with the government of Taiwan. Such cooperation may include (1) efforts to protect military networks, infrastructure, and installations; and (2) cybersecurity training activities and exercises.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Protect Our Waters and Expand Renewables on Our Reservoirs Act or the POWER Our Reservoirs Act This bill creates a framework for the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to pilot the use of floating solar panels at Reclamation and USACE project sites. Before launching the pilot programs, Reclamation and the USACE must separately analyze and report on expected costs, benefits, technical requirements, and overall feasibility.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Women in Aviation Advisory Board Act This bill establishes a Federal Advisory Committee on Women in Aviation. The committee must advise the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration on matters related to the education, training, mentorship, outreach, recruitment, and retention of women in the aviation industry. Membership in the committee must include representatives from aviation-related manufacturers, commercial air carriers, general aviation operators, unmanned aircraft systems operators, airports, aviation training and maintenance providers, labor organizations, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations within the aviation industry.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Ocean Shipping Competition Enforcement Act This bill establishes procedures for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to enjoin, without obtaining a court order, the operation of any ocean shipping agreement it determines is likely to have certain anticompetitive effects. The FMC monitors agreements by ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators and otherwise regulates the U.S. international ocean transportation system. Under current law, the FMC must obtain a court order to enjoin the operation of an agreement it determines is likely, by a reduction in competition, to (1) produce an unreasonable reduction in transportation service, (2) cause an unreasonable increase in transportation cost, or (3) substantially lessen competition in the purchasing of certain covered services. The bill authorizes the FMC to issue such an injunction without a court order. For such an injunction, the FMC must provide the person filing the agreement with notice and an opportunity to be heard under expedited procedures established by the FMC. The FMC may allow a third party to intervene in a proceeding relating to such an injunction. An injunction issued under this bill shall constitute a final order of the FMC.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Protect Our Waters and Expand Renewables on Our Reservoirs Act or the POWER Our Reservoirs Act This bill creates a framework for the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to pilot the use of floating solar panels at Reclamation and USACE project sites. Before launching the pilot programs, Reclamation and the USACE must separately analyze and report on expected costs, benefits, technical requirements, and overall feasibility.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2023 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a pilot grant program for improving recycling accessibility in communities. The EPA may award grants to states, local governments, Indian tribes, or public-private partnerships.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act This bill authorizes activities related to medical marijuana use by veterans and provides for research on medical marijuana use by veterans. Specifically, the bill authorizes (1) a veteran to use, possess, or transport medical marijuana in accordance with applicable state or Native American tribal law; (2) a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physician to discuss with a veteran the use of medical marijuana as a treatment if the physician is in a state or on tribal land that authorizes such treatment; or (3) a VA physician to recommend, complete forms for, or register veterans for participation in a medical marijuana treatment program in accordance with applicable state or tribal law. These authorizations expire after five years. The bill also requires the VA to report on (1) the use of medical marijuana by veterans to manage pain and to treat diseases and disorders (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder); and (2) the relationship between state-approved medical marijuana treatment programs, program access, and opioid use and misuse reduction.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act This bill establishes resources and a program to address cybersecurity of elementary and secondary schools. First, the bill directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to establish an information exchange to disseminate information, best practices, training, and resources to improve cybersecurity in elementary and secondary schools. In addition, CISA must establish a registry to track cyber incidents affecting information technology systems that are owned or managed by schools and educational agencies. Schools and educational agencies may voluntarily submit information to the registry. Finally, the bill requires CISA to establish a program to address cybersecurity threats to school information systems.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
Transportation Innovation Coordination Act This bill directs the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to study, plan, coordinate, and implement decarbonization of (1) aircraft, airports, and aviation; (2) maritime transportation; and (3) medium- and heavy-duty transportation vehicles. The joint office facilitates collaboration between the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation. Specifically, the bill requires the joint office to support decarbonization efforts such as research and technical assistance related to the development, operation, and maintenance of sustainable aircraft, low- or zero-emission vessels, and medium- and heavy-duty transportation vehicles; data sharing on the installation, operation, and maintenance of charging and refueling infrastructure at airports, ports, and freight facilities; the development and deployment of workforce training programs related to charging and refueling infrastructure at airports and ports; the transition from leaded fuel usage by commercial and general aviation; and the development and establishment of green maritime corridors. The joint office must also support research and funding related to the decarbonization of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and other freight transportation equipment and operations. This includes charging and fueling infrastructure, as well as the development and deployment of alternative sustainable low-carbon fuels, including biofuels, clean hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia, and associated powertrain technologies (e.g., batteries and hydrogen internal combustion engines).
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
Restoring WIFIA Eligibility Act This bill modifies the budgetary treatment of certain financial assistance provided to nonfederal entities under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
This bill expands eligibility for grants for rehabilitation and reconstruction projects for certain dams developed pursuant to the Carey Act provided that projects previously eligible for grants have received the necessary funding.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act This bill authorizes activities related to medical marijuana use by veterans and provides for research on medical marijuana use by veterans. Specifically, the bill authorizes (1) a veteran to use, possess, or transport medical marijuana in accordance with applicable state or Native American tribal law; (2) a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physician to discuss with a veteran the use of medical marijuana as a treatment if the physician is in a state or on tribal land that authorizes such treatment; or (3) a VA physician to recommend, complete forms for, or register veterans for participation in a medical marijuana treatment program in accordance with applicable state or tribal law. These authorizations expire after five years. The bill also requires the VA to report on (1) the use of medical marijuana by veterans to manage pain and to treat diseases and disorders (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder); and (2) the relationship between state-approved medical marijuana treatment programs, program access, and opioid use and misuse reduction.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2023
Stop Airplane Seat Shrinking Act This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prohibit air carriers from reducing the size of passenger seats on aircraft until the FAA issues a final rule establishing minimum dimensions for passenger seats.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2023
Flightmare Prevention Act of 2023 This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to establish minimum requirements for aviation enterprise resource planning systems that are used by domestic air carriers and necessary for passenger safety. These technology systems and software are used by air carriers for operational management, including for crew planning and communication, building flight schedules, and making changes to flight paths.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2023
Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2023 This bill allows tax-exempt charitable or educational organizations to make collegiate housing and infrastructure grants to certain tax-exempt social clubs (e.g., college fraternities and sororities) that apply such grants to their collegiate housing property. A collegiate housing and infrastructure grant is a grant to provide, improve, operate, or maintain collegiate housing property that may involve more than incidental social, recreational, or private purposes. The grant must be for purposes that would be permissible for a dormitory or other residential facility of the college or university with which the collegiate housing property is associated. The grant may not be used to provide physical fitness facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2023
Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act This bill provides airports with the option to use funds provided under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to repair and replace sound insulation in residential buildings. Under current policy, airports may use AIP funds for one-time sound insulation projects for residential buildings. This bill provides airports a one-time waiver to use AIP funds to carry out repair and replacement of sound insulation for residential buildings if the airport previously received federal assistance or federally authorized airport assistance for the insulation and (1) it is justified due to increased aircraft noise, or (2) the previously installed sound insulation has resulted in structural deterioration. To qualify, the building or structure must currently fall within the Day Night Level (DNL) 65 noise standard. If not, it must have fallen within this standard at the time of the initial noise mitigation, and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) compliant noise auditor must determine that such sound insulation treatment caused physical damage to the residence; or the materials used were of low quality and have deteriorated, broken, or otherwise no longer function as intended. Additionally, an airport and the property owner must exhaust funding available through warranties, insurance coverage, and legal remedies for the previously installed insulation. An FAA compliant noise auditor must also inspect the residence and determine that the previously installed insulation resulted in structural deterioration that was not caused by the property owner's or airport's negligence, or due to the homeowner's actions.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Permit Reform In Mining for Energy and Defense Act or the PRIMED Act This bill makes certain actions taken by the Department of Defense to secure critical materials for energy infrastructure (e.g., minerals) eligible for an expedited environmental review by including those projects within the scope of covered projects under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Federal Aviation Administration Engagement and Transparency Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the level of responsiveness of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to requests from Members of Congress and the average time frame for responses to the requests. Further, the FAA must annually brief Congress on (1) the efforts, activities, objectives, and plans of the FAA; and (2) the efforts of the FAA to engage with Congress and the public.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Choices for Stranded Passengers Act of 2023 This bill requires air carriers (including foreign air carriers) that cause a significant flight delay or cancellation to provide, in certain circumstances, passengers with alternative transportation. For the purposes of this bill, a domestic flight is considered significantly delayed when the departure or arrival has changed by three or more hours; an international flight to or from the United States is significantly delayed at six or more hours. Further, a qualifying flight is a scheduled flight in an aircraft designed for 31 passenger seats or more. Under the bill, an air carrier that has caused a significant delay or cancellation to a qualifying flight must provide a passenger with an alternative flight on another air carrier at no additional charge if that alternative flight would arrive at the destination before the original flight or before another flight by the original air carrier. This requirement does not apply if the passenger voluntarily chooses (1) to accept alternative ground transportation, provided at no additional charge by the air carrier; or (2) not to travel to the original destination and the air carrier promptly provides a full cash refund for the ticket cost and fees. Passengers must be informed of their rights under this bill when booking a ticket and at the time such a delay or cancellation occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Communities Before Air Tourism Act This bill requires a voluntary agreement for commercial air tour operations over a national park to address specific management issues necessary to protect the park without compromising the well-being of communities overflown by such aircraft. Currently, the voluntary agreement must only address these issues without compromising aviation safety or the air traffic control system. Further, the bill amends the public review requirements for a proposed voluntary agreement to require consultation with any community whose lands are, or may be, flown over by a commercial air tour operator. Currently, consultation is only required with any Indian tribe whose tribal lands are, or may be, flown over by an operator.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Noncontiguous Shipping Relief Act of 2023 This bill establishes a limited exception to coastwise laws to allow foreign-flag freight vessels to transport merchandise domestically to or from a port in the noncontiguous United States. The bill also addresses various issues related to foreign-flag freight vessels engaged in coastwise trade (i.e., domestic waterborne trade between U.S. ports). Under the coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, a freight vessel may not transport merchandise between U.S. ports unless it is U.S.-built, at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and mostly crewed by U.S. citizens. The bill authorizes qualifying foreign-flag vessels to transport merchandise between (1) a port in the contiguous United States and a port in the noncontiguous United States (i.e., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory or possession); or (2) two ports in the noncontiguous United States. Under the bill, all foreign-flag freight vessels operating in U.S. coastwise trade must comply with the (1) minimum international labor standards applicable to U.S. seafarers, and (2) same environmental standards that apply to U.S. vessels. The bill authorizes such operators to participate in the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation program on behalf of masters and crew members they employ. The bill also requires foreign-flag vessel owners and operators engaging in coastwise trade to identify an agent for service of process, abide by U.S. tax and other laws, and maintain specified documentation on board. Additionally, lawsuits against such vessels alleging personal injury or death must be brought in U.S. district court.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Noncontiguous Shipping Reasonable Rate Act of 2023 This bill provides that a rate for service in noncontiguous domestic ocean trade is reasonable if such rate is within 10% of a rate set by a comparable international ocean rate index recognized by the Federal Maritime Commission. (Under current law, a rate is required to be reasonable, and the Surface Transportation Board generally has the authority to determine whether certain rates are reasonable.)
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Noncontiguous Shipping Competition Act This bill revises coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, that govern domestic transportation of merchandise or passengers by vessels. The Jones Act generally requires that a vessel transporting merchandise or passengers from one U.S. point to another U.S. point be (1) built in the United States, (2) at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and (3) mostly crewed by U.S. citizens. The act also includes several exemptions and exceptions. The bill exempts carriage on a route in noncontiguous trade from Jones Act requirements unless (1) at least three owners or operators of coastwise qualified vessels regularly operate such a vessel on the route, (2) each of such owners or operators transports at least 20% of the volume of goods on that route, and (3) none of such owners or operators are under common ownership. (Generally, noncontiguous trade is trade between two U.S. points where at least one of the points is in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or an insular territory or U.S. possession.)
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Hawaii Air Tour Management Act of 2023 This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish an air tour management plan for areas of Hawaii that are not located within the National Park System. (Current law requires the FAA to establish air tour management plans for national parks and tribal lands that are within or abutting a national park.) The FAA and Hawaii must enter into an agreement to establish (1) the content of an air tour management plan, (2) the procedure for establishing a plan, and (3) the responsibilities of each party in carrying out the plan. Prior to the establishment of this air tour management plan, the FAA may grant an air tour operator that is operating within Hawaii, and not within the National Park System, interim operating authority. The legal requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act do not apply to the establishment of an air tour management plan under this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Air Tour and Sport Parachuting Safety Improvement Act of 2023 This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update safety standards for commercial air tour operators (i.e., sightseeing airplane and helicopter flights). Within three years of the bill's enactment, all commercial air tour operators, with exceptions, must hold an air carrier certificate or commercial operator certificate. The FAA must implement procedures to improve the process for obtaining these certificates. The FAA must also issue regulations requiring commercial air tour operators and other specified operators to implement appropriate safety management systems. This is a formal, organization-wide approach to safety risk that includes systematic procedures, practices, and policies. The FAA must issue new or revised regulations requiring that all certificated commercial air tour operators incorporate into their training programs avoidance training for controlled flight into terrain and in-flight loss of control. The FAA must also convene aviation rulemaking committees and, within three years of the bill's enactment, issue final regulations establishing a performance-based standard for flight data monitoring for all commercial air tour operators, requiring all commercial air tour operators to install flight data recording devices and implement a flight data monitoring program, establishing methods to provide effective traffic avoidance in identified high-traffic tour areas (e.g., requiring air tour operators to be equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance technology), and governing specified issues related to sports parachute operations conducted in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish an Impacted Communities Advisory Committee. The committee must provide advice and recommendations to the FAA on community needs, plans, and strategies with respect to areas that include noise policy; community engagement; noise, pollution, and health mitigation for communities close to airports and communities away from airports; and integration of new or emerging technologies.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
Noise Data Collection Act This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to annually report to Congress the estimated number of individuals in the United States who are exposed to certain levels of aviation noise. Specifically, the report must include estimates for the number of individuals exposed to aviation noise at each of the following day-night average sound levels (DNLs): 65 dBA, 55 dBA, and 46 dBA. In addition, the FAA's initial report must include an estimate of the number of individuals exposed to aviation noise at these levels for each year during the period beginning on January 1, 2010, and ending on the last day of the year preceding the year for which the first report is submitted. The DNL noise metric reflects a person's cumulative exposure to sound over a 24-hour period, expressed as the noise level for the average day of the year on the basis of annual aircraft operations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
Aircraft Ownership Transparency Act of 2023 This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to obtain the identity of all beneficial owners of a covered entity prior to approving an aircraft certificate of registration. A covered entity refers to a person, trust, association, copartnership, corporation, or other public or private entity. A beneficial owner refers to a natural person who directly or indirectly (1) exercises control over the covered entity, or (2) has an interest in or receives substantial economic benefits from the covered entity's assets. Specifically, the FAA must require a covered entity seeking an aircraft certificate of registration to identify each beneficial owner by providing the owner's name and current street address; a unique identifying number from a U.S. passport or a driver's license issued by a state (or a copy of a passport issued by a foreign country if those documents are unavailable); the owner's nationality; and the make, model, and serial number of the aircraft to be registered. The covered entity must also disclose any beneficial owner of the covered entity who is a foreign person. A foreign person is an individual who is not (1) a U.S. citizen, or a (2) non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
Peer-Reviewed Report on Measuring Metrics and Thresholds This bill requires the Department of Transportation to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to produce a report that identifies and recommends a system of measuring aviation noise. This measurement system must, with a highly reliable relationship, categorize noise levels to determine compatibility for residential areas and high annoyance areas based on appropriate metrics. In addition, it must (1) have a highly reliable relationship between projected noise exposure and surveyed reactions of individuals, and (2) be applied uniformly in measuring noise at airports and the surrounding area.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
This bill designates any public airport in use by an air reserve station as a primary airport for purposes of additional funding through the Airport Improvement Program, which funds airport infrastructure projects. Under current law, a primary airport is generally a commercial service airport that has more than 10,000 passenger boardings each year.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act of 2023 This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to enter into an arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to examine and report on the various health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
This bill designates U.S. Route 74 from Columbus, North Carolina, to Kings Mountain, North Carolina, as (1) a high priority corridor on the National Highway System, and (2) a future part of the Interstate System.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
CBP Workload Staffing Model Act This bill requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop and implement a workload staffing model for each of the U.S. Border Patrol and Air and Marine Operations. Such model shall include (1) consideration for essential frontline operator activities and functions, (2) variations in operating environments, and (3) present and planned infrastructure and technology. The CBP must also develop standard operating procedures for a workforce tracking system, train the workforce on the use of such system, and implement internal controls to ensure timely and accurate scheduling and reporting. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must review the model and provide feedback regarding the degree to which it is responsive to certain DHS recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2023
Prioritizing Revised Operations To Eliminate Cyanobacteria Toxins in Florida Act or the PROTECT Florida Act This bill modifies requirements regarding water infrastructure projects in central and southern Florida. Specifically, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) must include in such projects specified public health considerations, including those related to cyanobacteria (i.e., blue-green algae) and other toxins. The bill also prohibits the use of restoration funds for deep well injection (a liquid-waste disposal technology). In addition, the USACE must (1) develop a master operational manual to ensure system management that protects public health and Everglades restoration; and (2) with the National Academies of Sciences, study the legacy of pollution and nutrient loading, as well as the impacts of soil amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2023
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to recommend ways to reduce helicopter and rotorcraft noise in the District of Columbia, including recommendations on altitude, the number of flights, flight paths, and pilot training.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2023
Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act This bill provides airports with the option to use funds provided under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to repair and replace sound insulation in residential buildings. Under current policy, airports may use AIP funds for one-time sound insulation projects for residential buildings. This bill provides airports a one-time waiver to use AIP funds to carry out repair and replacement of sound insulation for residential buildings if the airport previously received federal assistance or federally authorized airport assistance for the insulation and (1) it is justified due to increased aircraft noise, or (2) the previously installed sound insulation has resulted in structural deterioration. To qualify, the building or structure must currently fall within the Day Night Level (DNL) 65 noise standard. If not, it must have fallen within this standard at the time of the initial noise mitigation, and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) compliant noise auditor must determine that such sound insulation treatment caused physical damage to the residence; or the materials used were of low quality and have deteriorated, broken, or otherwise no longer function as intended. Additionally, an airport and the property owner must exhaust funding available through warranties, insurance coverage, and legal remedies for the previously installed insulation. An FAA compliant noise auditor must also inspect the residence and determine that the previously installed insulation resulted in structural deterioration that was not caused by the property owner's or airport's negligence, or due to the homeowner's actions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2023
This bill revises Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program requirements for the Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. The Airport DBE program seeks to offer small disadvantaged businesses (i.e., certified as owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals) a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded contracts related to airports. The Department of Transportation must develop a training program for FAA employees who provide guidance and training to entities that certify whether a small business qualifies for the Airport DBE program. This bill also revises application requirements for certain airports to impose passenger facility charges, including by requiring such airports that participate in the Airport DBE program to include a detailed description of good faith efforts to contract with disadvantaged businesses and to ensure that all small businesses fairly compete for work funded with passenger facility charges. Further, the bill requires large- and medium-hub airports that participate in the Airport DBE program to report annually to the FAA on the number of new disadvantaged businesses that were awarded a contract or concession during the previous fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2023
Expanding Opportunities for Diverse Entrepreneurs Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and recipients of assistance from the program to analyze and report on the program. The DBE program seeks to offer small disadvantaged businesses (i.e., certified as owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals) a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts. The bill requires the DBE liaison officers to track and provide an analysis of all efforts to expand knowledge of services and opportunities available (e.g., minimum outreach, training, and online development support) to non-certified and certified DBEs to increase an enterprise's ability to compete for, and perform on, federally funded transportation contracts; DOT to publicly post online a searchable and exportable version of the Uniform Report of DBE Awards/ Commitments and Payments for each state; and DOT to submit an annual report to Congress on the DBE program.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2023
Safe Routes Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Transportation to waive vehicle weight limits for covered logging vehicles. The term covered logging vehicle means a vehicle that (1) is transporting raw or unfinished forest products, including logs, pulpwood, biomass, or wood chips; (2) is traveling a distance not greater than 150 air miles from origin to a storage or processing facility; and (3) meets state legal weight tolerances and vehicle configurations for transporting raw or unfinished forest products within the state boundaries in which the vehicle is operating.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2023
School Security Enhancement Act This bill allows local educational agencies to use specified portions of Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants for planning and designing school buildings and facilities, installing infrastructure, and implementing other measures to strengthen security on school premises. Further, the bill prohibits the use of these grant funds for the provision of a firearm or training in the use of a firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2023
Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2023 This bill precludes absolute liability in any action against a property owner or contractor for certain federal infrastructure and transportation development projects for any injury associated with an elevation- or gravity-related risk occurring on those projects. This applies to federally owned or operated projects and to projects receiving federal financial assistance for infrastructure and transportation development. In any such claim, a state must apply a liability standard that considers the comparative negligence of the injured person when such negligence is a proximate cause of an injury, and state law would otherwise apply absolute liability as the basis for such claim. The bill applies to claims arising from projects in which a state or local government accepts federal financial assistance beginning on or after January 1, 2025.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2023
Essential Air Service Reform Act This bill modifies the Essential Air Service (EAS) program's applicant selection process for air service providers. (The EAS program was established to ensure that small communities that were served by certificated air carriers before the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 would continue to receive scheduled passenger service.) Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must consider the overall cost of a submitted bid when selecting an EAS applicant to provide basic essential air service to a community. The bill also removes a current requirement that, in selecting an EAS applicant, DOT give substantial weight to the views of elected officials who represent air transportation users. Finally, DOT must notify Congress when it enters into an EAS contract with an air service provider and include an explanation for awarding the contract with the notification.