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351 records in US in 2023
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2023
This bill prohibits the Department of Transportation from promoting the use of traffic photo enforcement in any rule, regulation, or guidance.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2023
End EAS Act This bill repeals the Essential Air Service (EAS) Program of the Department of Transportation (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.)
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023
Public Inspectors for Safe Infrastructure Act This bill requires state and local transportation agencies that contract for the construction of federal-aid highways to ensure that a public employee performs the construction inspection functions (such as construction engineering, on-site quality control inspections, and materials testing).
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023
Short Line Railroad Relief Act This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to provide emergency grants or enter into contracts and other agreements for capital projects for short line railroads. A project must protect, repair, reconstruct, or replace short line railroad equipment and facilities in danger of suffering catastrophic damage, or that have suffered catastrophic damage, as a result of an emergency. An emergency includes a natural disaster affecting a wide area or a catastrophic failure from any external cause that results in the declaration of an emergency or a major disaster.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023
Hammers' Law This bill authorizes a party in a civil suit to recover nonpecuniary damages (i.e., damages for loss of care, comfort, and companionship) when an individual dies as a result of a cruise ship accident that occurred on the high seas beyond 12 nautical miles from the U.S. shore. The nonpecuniary damages may be in addition to other damages, but punitive damages are not recoverable. Current law already permits these damages to be recovered if a death was caused by a commercial aviation accident on the high seas.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023
Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Safety Act This bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration's operation of the Advanced Materials Center of Excellence and revises the focus and responsibilities of the center to include passenger safety. Specifically, the center must focus on applied research and training on the safe use of composites and advanced materials in airframe structures. (Currently, the center must focus on applied research and training on the durability and maintainability of advanced materials in transport airframe structures.) The center must also conduct research and development into aircraft structure crashworthiness and passenger safety, as well as address safe and accessible air travel of individuals with a disability, including materials required to facilitate safe wheelchair restraint systems on commercial aircraft. The center's responsibilities must also include establishing criteria for the safe movement of all passengers, including individuals with a disability and individuals using their personal wheelchairs in flight, that takes into account the modeling, engineering, testing, operating, and training issues significant to all passengers and relevant stakeholders.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023
This resolution (1) expresses support for the designation of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month; (2) recognizes the contribution of motorcycles to transportation; (3) encourages motorcycle awareness; (4) recognizes that motorcyclists have a right to the road and that all motorists should safely share the roadways; (5) encourages rider safety education, training, and proper gear; and (6) supports the goals of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023
Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California Lands Act or the PUBLIC Lands Act This bill sets forth provisions concerning the restoration, economic development, and conservation of, and recreational access to, certain public lands in California. The bill establishes the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area, the California Public Lands Remediation Partnership, the Horse Mountain Special Management Area, the Elk Camp Ridge Recreation Trail, the Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management Area, and the Condor National Scenic Trail. The bill designates specified federal lands as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System or as potential wilderness areas and renames the North Fork Wilderness as the North Fork Eel River Wilderness. It also designates wild and scenic rivers. The bill authorizes the utilization of certain forest residues for research and development of biobased products that result in net carbon sequestration, authorizes initiatives to restore degraded redwood forest ecosystems in the Redwood National Forest and state parks, requires specified recreational studies and partnerships, and expands the boundaries of the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Finally, the bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to issue a special use authorization to the owners of a water transport or diversion facility in the Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness for the continued operation, maintenance, and reconstruction of the facility if specified conditions are met.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023
Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act or the SHIP Act This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against foreign persons that knowingly transport, process, refine, or otherwise deal in petroleum and petroleum products originating in Iran. These sanctions also extend to certain foreign persons associated with the sanctioned individual, such as adult family members and any entities owned or controlled by the sanctioned individual.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023
Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin Act This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue a final rule establishing evacuation standards for transport category airplanes. In issuing the rule, the FAA must consider the impact of certain factors on the safe and efficient evacuation of an airplane. These factors include the ability of passengers of different ages (e.g., infants, children, and senior citizens); the ability of passengers with disabilities; the ability of passengers who do not speak English; and seat size, seat pitch, and aisle width.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023
Barriers to Suicide Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program to facilitate the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents on bridges, including suicide prevention nets and barriers. DOT may award competitive grants to states and local governments to carry out the program. The bill also specifies that the installation of safety barriers and nets on bridges of the National Highway System are eligible highway safety improvement projects under the National Highway Performance Program of the Federal Highway Administration. The Government Accountability Office must conduct a study to identify the types of structures, other than bridges, that attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-jumping and the types of nets or barriers that are effective at reducing such suicides.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023
Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin Act This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue a final rule establishing evacuation standards for transport category airplanes. In issuing the rule, the FAA must consider the impact of certain factors on the safe and efficient evacuation of an airplane. These factors include the ability of passengers of different ages (e.g., infants, children, and senior citizens); the ability of passengers with disabilities; the ability of passengers who do not speak English; and seat size, seat pitch, and aisle width.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2023
Avionic Students Housing Act This bill allows an airport, school, or other airport operator to provide housing on the non-aeronautical area grounds of an airport for students enrolled in an accredited avionic program. The bill defines an avionic program as leading to a degree, certification, or qualifications for a career as a pilot, mechanic, air traffic controller, airline support personnel, or other avionics-related field.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2023
This bill reauthorizes for five years the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee, which advises the Department of Transportation on issues related to the air travel needs of passengers with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2023
Western Water Accelerated Revenue Repayment Act This bill permanently authorizes a provision under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act that (1) allows certain water users (e.g., agriculture and municipal water users) in western states to prepay what they owe under contracts with the Bureau of Reclamation for the storage and supply of water resources; and (2) requires a specified portion of the receipts generated from such prepayments be directed to the Reclamation Water Storage Account for the construction of water storage.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2023
San Gabriel Mountains Protection Act This bill designates wilderness areas and wild and scenic rivers in California and modifies the boundaries of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in California to include additional National Forest System (NFS) land. Specifically, the monument shall include approximately 109,167 acres of additional NFS land. The bill designates parcels of NFS land as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System to create the Condor Peak Wilderness and Yerba Buena Wilderness and to add to the San Gabriel Wilderness and Sheep Mountain Wilderness. The bill designates specified wild and scenic rivers. The Department of Agriculture may issue a special use authorization to the owners of a water transport or diversion facility located on NFS land in the Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness for the continued operation, maintenance, and reconstruction of the facility if specified conditions are met.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2023
Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act or the HOWIE Act This bill requires the Federal Railroad Administration to issue regulations to require a railroad to report a train accident that results in damage if the railroad has a reasonable suspicion that an action carried out by the railroad caused the damage. An accident includes any incident that causes a fire, including a brush fire, alongside a railroad track. Specifically, a railroad must report (1) a train accident resulting in damage (based on a preliminary gross estimate) of $150,000 or more to railroad and nonrailroad property; or (2) a train accident resulting in damage of $25,000 or more to a passenger train, including railroad and nonrailroad property.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2023
American Aviation Diversity Act This bill authorizes appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration's Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Intern Program. (This program is open to all eligible undergraduate and graduate college students who attend an accredited college or university. A focus of the MSI intern program is providing opportunities to eligible students from groups that have been underrepresented in aviation, aeronautics, and science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), such as African Americans, Asian Americans and other Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, persons with disabilities, student veterans, and women.)
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2023
Helping Evaluate Appropriate Logistical Infrastructure for National Government Response Act of 2023 or the HEALING Response Act of 2023 This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to review efforts undertaken by the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the United States has the capacity to rapidly produce medical countermeasures. (Medical countermeasures are certain medical products that may be used to diagnose, prevent, or treat conditions associated with chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats or emerging infectious diseases during public health emergencies.) The review must address, among other topics, efforts to transition to new initiatives for facilitating the development and manufacturing of countermeasures (e.g., transitioning from the Centers for Innovation and Advanced Drug Manufacturing program to Industrial Base Expansion Connect).
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2023
Healthy Air Travel Act This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to establish an interagency task force to develop and implement a strategy to identify and advance research on communicable diseases in air travel. The task force must consult with representatives from the aviation industry, health experts, and labor stakeholders in developing the strategy. Under the bill, the term communicable disease refers to certain diseases that have the potential to cause a future epidemic or pandemic of infectious disease that would constitute a public health emergency of international concern as declared, after the date of the bill's enactment, by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023
RTCP Revitalization Act This bill amends the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP) to provide specified funds for the RTCP through FY2029 and each fiscal year thereafter. The RTCP provides reimbursement payments for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (e.g., those in Hawaii and Alaska) for a portion of the cost to transport agricultural commodities or inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity. The bill also removes a $15 million payment cap for any given fiscal year. Further, USDA may not impose a limitation on the amount of producer payments for any fiscal year that the program funds are equal to or exceed demand.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023
Safe Aviation and Flight Enhancement Act of 2023 This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to issue regulations requiring all newly manufactured commercial aircraft used in certain extended overwater operations to have additional data recovery features. Specifically, commercial aircraft that are required to have a cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and a flight data recorder (FDR) must be equipped with a means to recover flight data that does not require underwater retrieval, a tamper-resistant method to broadcast to a ground station sufficient information to establish the flight termination location within six nautical miles of the point of impact, and an airframe low-frequency underwater locating device that will function for at least 90 days and that is detectable by current search and rescue systems. Further, the commercial aircraft must be equipped to retain at least the last 25 hours of recorded information. Commercial aircraft that are ordered by an air carrier on or after January 1, 2027, must have the additional recorder system installed. The bill specifies that a third combination CVR/FDR recording mechanism is not required to satisfy the bill's requirements. Compliant technologies may include (1) an automatic deployable flight recorder system (i.e., a CVR, FDR, and emergency locator transmitter housed in one crash-protected, floatable unit), and (2) transmission of flight recorder data (i.e., a system capable of providing satellite transmission of critical flight data that can also assist in identifying the location of a downed aircraft).
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023
Aviation Investment and Recruitment Act of 2023 or the AIR Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 aviation workforce development programs for pilots and mechanics.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023
This resolution recognizes the contributions of aviation maintenance technicians.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2023
Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act of 2023 or as the DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023 This bill addresses immigration-related issues, such as increasing hiring for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel and providing removal deferral for eligible non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law). For example, the bill requires the hiring of additional CBP personnel and authorizes recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses for CBP personnel; provides funding for border infrastructure and equipment; makes it a crime to transmit the location of law enforcement with the intent to violate immigration laws or certain other federal laws; requires employers to verify the immigration status of individuals using an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system; requires unaccompanied alien children to be processed and reunited with U.S.-based sponsors in accordance with the Flores settlement, which established policies pertaining to the treatment of minors without lawful immigration status; requires the Department of State to implement a strategy to address the key factors contributing to individuals from Central America traveling to the United States; provides a path to permanent resident status to eligible individuals without lawful immigration status who entered the United States as minors (commonly referred to as Dreamers); establishes the Dignity Program, which defers the removal of eligible individuals without lawful immigration status who meet various requirements, including paying into a fund to provide training to U.S. workers; and establishes the Redemption Program, which provides a path to permanent resident status to individuals who complete the Dignity Program and meet various requirements, including making additional payments into the U.S. worker fund.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2023
This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require that medications and medical equipment for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose be included in an aircraft emergency medical kit; the FAA must, to the maximum extent possible, follow the guidance of the Aerospace Medical Association. In a 2019 guidance document to the FAA, the Aerospace Medical Association recommended including an opioid antagonist (e.g., naloxone or Narcan) in an aircraft emergency medical kit.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2023
National Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Research and Development Act This bill establishes programs and requirements to support domestic research and development of unmanned aircraft systems (e.g., drones) and advanced air mobility (e.g., new aircraft models that transport passengers, goods, and services more efficiently or to areas that are difficult to reach). For example, the bill establishes an interagency working group to coordinate federal efforts and develop a strategic plan to support this technology. It also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the procurement and use of foreign-made technology by the federal government. In addition, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) must establish a program to create institutes that support interdisciplinary research into this technology through public-private partnerships. The National Institute of Standards and Technology must also support these institutes and develop technical standards for this technology, such as security standards. The National Science Foundation must support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and training about this technology, such as though grants to educational institutions and nonprofits. The bill also directs several agencies to research the potential of this technology and how it can be integrated into their programs and activities, including NASA, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill specifically prohibits using any funds that are authorized under this bill to purchase, acquire, or operate technology from North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, or any other foreign country of concern, other than to further research and development of U.S. technology.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2023
FAA Research and Development Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) civilian aviation research and development activities. The bill also specifies required research and development activities. For example, the Department of Transportation, in coordination with other agencies, must prepare and submit a research and development road map to safely eliminate the use of leaded aviation fuel without adversely affecting the existing piston engine fleet. The FAA must also coordinate with private industry on research programs for the mass production and distribution of unleaded aviation gasoline for market viability. The bill also directs the FAA to continue research on technologies and operations to enhance air traffic surface operations safety; research, develop, and test the use of air traffic space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, in coordination with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with a specific focus on monitoring and automatically reporting air turbulence events and providing space-based multilateration surveillance; conduct research, engineering, and development on the effective and efficient use and management of radio frequency spectrum in civil aviation; conduct a research and development program to advance aviation structures, materials, and manufacturing for the safe use in and on aircraft; and evaluate opportunities to modernize, enhance, and streamline the training time to become a certified air traffic controller, including assessing the use of advanced technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence and virtual reality).
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2023
More Opportunities for Rural Economies from DOT Grants Act or the MORE DOT Grants Act This bill revises the process for awarding grants to high-density public land counties and any units of tribal or local governments within such counties under certain Department of Transportation (DOT) programs. Examples of qualifying grant programs include the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program and the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). A high-density public land county is a county that has a population of not more than 100,000 people and in which the federal government owns or manages more than 50% of the land. For these jurisdictions, any requirement for local matching funds under a qualifying grant program must be reduced by 50%. On request, DOT must provide additional technical assistance to such jurisdictions before and during the annual application period for each qualifying grant program. DOT must also prioritize grant applications from such jurisdictions that have not received support under the qualifying grant program during the 10-year period preceding the date of the application. In approving applications for a qualifying grant program, DOT must give special consideration to an application from a high-density public land county or unit of local government within such a county with respect to any rural-set aside designated for the program. DOT may give special consideration to an application from a tribal government within such a county.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2023
District of Columbia Transportation Funding Equality Act This bill treats the District of Columbia as a state with respect to certain Department of Transportation (DOT) grant programs. Specifically, the bill applies to the Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program, which provides funding for capital expenses to purchase and rehabilitate buses and to construct bus-related facilities. Currently, the District is treated as a territory under the program. The bill also treats the District as a state under two additional DOT programs. The National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program provides competitive grants to eligible entities for projects that meaningfully improve or restore fish passage for certain types of fish. The Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program supports initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Currently, the District is not included under either of these programs. Further, the bill treats the District as a state for purposes of the Growing States and High Density States Formula, which provides additional money to some places (e.g., states with a population density greater than 370 persons per square mile) and is distributed through the Urbanized and Rural Area Formula Programs. Currently, the District is not included under the formula.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2023
Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act This bill establishes programs within the Department of Transportation (DOT) to support the use of small, unmanned aircraft systems (commonly known as drones) when inspecting, operating, repairing, or constructing road infrastructure, electric grid infrastructure, water infrastructure, or other critical infrastructure. Specifically, DOT must award grants to state, tribal, or local governments; metropolitan planning organizations; or groups of those entities to purchase or otherwise use drones to support more efficient inspection, operation, construction, maintenance, modernization, and repair of critical infrastructure to improve worker safety related to critical infrastructure projects. Grant recipients must use domestically manufactured drones that are not made by certain foreign entities, including companies subject to influence or control from China or Russia. DOT must also award grants to certain institutions of higher education for training students for careers using drones and related technologies.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Bear Protection Act of 2023 This bill makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly import, export, sell, purchase, possess, transport, deliver, or receive bear viscera or related products except for limited acts carried out solely to enforce wildlife protection laws. Bear viscera means a bear's body fluids or internal organs, including the gallbladder and its contents. The term excludes a bear's blood or brains.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
This resolution expresses support for National Public Works Week.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2023 This bill establishes grants for owners and operators of publicly owned wastewater treatments systems and community water systems to support planning and other aspects of implementing smart water network technologies.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Kids Fly Safe Act This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a comprehensive study on child safety in aviation in consultation with Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Transportation Security Administration. The study must evaluate issues that include the usage and aircraft compatibility of age-appropriate child safety seats and restraints, procedures for evacuating children safely and efficiently from aircraft, the extent to which airport terminal design requirements include measures to ensure the general physical safety of children in the terminal and while on airport property, and the extent to which airport and airline policies protect children from contagious diseases or in-flight respiratory issues.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Stop Taxation of Overburdened People from New Jersey by Correcting Obnoxious New Gimmick and Ensuring the Stability of Transportation Infrastructure from Obstinate Neighbors Act or the STOP NJ CONGESTION Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to withhold 50% of National Highway Performance Program funds and Surface Transportation Block Grant program funds from each state that implements a congestion pricing system similar to that described in the environmental assessment titled Final Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Central Business District (CBD) Tolling Program, Manhattan, New York . The bill also prohibits the implementation of projects under a DOT value pricing pilot program unless the project sponsor receives the consent of each affected state. Value pricing (also called congestion pricing) involves charging drivers on congested roadways during peak periods.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023 This bill establishes and extends certain rules and authorities related to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and operations. Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a regulatory pathway for certification or approval of UAS to enable commercial beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, including a risk assessment methodology. Additionally, the bill establishes the Office of Associate Administrator of UAS Integration within the FAA. Among other duties, the office must (1) ensure and oversee the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace system, and (2) encourage and facilitate a commercially viable UAS industry and the leadership of the United States in UAS. The bill also establishes the UAS Certification Unit to develop and implement the UAS certification or approval processes for BVLOS operations. The bill extends the FAA's UAS Test Site Program, which provides verification of the safety of public and civil UAS, operations, and related navigation procedures before their integration into the national airspace system. The bill also modifies the program to require the FAA to use modeling and simulation tools to assist in the testing, evaluation, verification, and validation of UAS. Further, the bill extends the special authority for the Department of Transportation to provide exemptions from some requirements for UAS by using a risk-based approach to determine if certain UAS may operate safely in the national airspace system.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Advanced Reactor Coordination Act or the ARC Act This bill directs the President to consider the feasibility of leveraging existing activities or frameworks or, as necessary, establishing an Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center to assist embarking civil nuclear nation countries in developing or expanding civil nuclear energy programs. An embarking civil nuclear nation means a country that (1) does not have a civil nuclear energy program; (2) is in the process of developing or expanding a civil nuclear energy program; (3) is in the process of selecting, developing, constructing, or utilizing advanced light water reactors, advanced nuclear reactors, or advanced civil nuclear technologies; or (4) had an annual per capita gross domestic product of no more than $28,000 in 2020. The term excludes China, Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Burma, and certain countries that pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States or support acts of international terrorism. The term civil nuclear means activities relating to nuclear plant construction or operations, nuclear fuel services, nuclear energy financing, nuclear plant regulation, nuclear medicine, nuclear safety, community engagement, infrastructure support for nuclear energy, nuclear plant decommissioning, nuclear liability, safe storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel, environmental safeguards, nuclear nonproliferation and security, and technology related to such activities.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Strategic Nuclear Infrastructure Act This bill establishes a Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group to provide input to the National Security Council and other appropriate federal agencies on the feasibility of establishing a Strategic Infrastructure Fund that may be used to support capital-intensive infrastructure projects related to civil nuclear technologies, microprocessors, and other strategic investments.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
This resolution designates the week of May 21 through May 27, 2023, as National Public Works Week.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Kids Fly Safe Act This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a comprehensive study on child safety in aviation in consultation with Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Transportation Security Administration. The study must evaluate issues that include the usage and aircraft compatibility of age-appropriate child safety seats and restraints, procedures for evacuating children safely and efficiently from aircraft, the extent to which airport terminal design requirements include measures to ensure the general physical safety of children in the terminal and while on airport property, and the extent to which airport and airline policies protect children from contagious diseases or in-flight respiratory issues.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Stop Taxation of Overburdened People from New Jersey by Correcting Obnoxious New Gimmick and Ensuring the Stability of Transportation Infrastructure from Obstinate Neighbors Act or the STOP NJ CONGESTION Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to withhold 50% of National Highway Performance Program funds and Surface Transportation Block Grant program funds from each state that implements a congestion pricing system similar to that described in the environmental assessment titled Final Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Central Business District (CBD) Tolling Program, Manhattan, New York . The bill also prohibits the implementation of projects under a DOT value pricing pilot program unless the project sponsor receives the consent of each affected state. Value pricing (also called congestion pricing) involves charging drivers on congested roadways during peak periods.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Fair and Open Skies Act This bill amends the policy considerations the Department of Transportation (DOT) must take into account when issuing a foreign air carrier permit. (This allows foreign air carriers to operate in U.S. air space.) DOT must consider preventing the undermining of labor standards when determining whether the foreign air transportation will be in the public interest. Further, the bill amends the requirements for the Department of State and DOT in formulating U.S. international air transportation policy. Under current law, the State Department and DOT must develop a negotiating policy emphasizing the greatest degree of competition compatible with a well-functioning international air transportation system and include specific considerations; this is amended to also include preventing the undermining of labor standards.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
American Infrastructure Bonds Act of 2023 This bill allows the issuer of an American infrastructure bond a tax credit for 28% of the interest payable under such bond.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
RTCP Revitalization Act This bill amends the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP) to provide specified funds for the RTCP through FY2029 and each fiscal year thereafter. The RTCP provides reimbursement payments for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (e.g., those in Hawaii and Alaska) for a portion of the cost to transport agricultural commodities or inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity. The bill also removes a $15 million payment cap for any given fiscal year. Further, USDA may not impose a limitation on the amount of producer payments for any fiscal year that the program funds are equal to or exceed demand.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2023 This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make competitive grants to assist eligible entities in maintaining and expanding their capacity to conduct workforce training, education, research, and outreach activities related to agriculture and similar disciplines. An eligible entity includes a junior or community college, or a consortium or alliance of two-year public colleges, supporting agriculture advancement. In awarding grants, USDA must give priority to entities coordinating with a local agriculture industry operator to provide experiential training and other opportunities for students. Grant funds may be used to expand and maintain the capacity of the eligible entity, including through the purchase or other acquisition of equipment and other infrastructure, the professional growth and development of faculty, and the development of apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities. An eligible entity may submit to USDA an application for designation and funding as a Center of Excellence for Agriculture Advancement. Funding received as a result of such a designation must be used to demonstrate agriculture best practices and to provide leadership in capacity building at a regional or national level.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023
This bill allows vehicles powered primarily by hydrogen fuel cells (or by a combination of natural gas, electric batteries, or hydrogen fuel cells) to exceed certain weight limits on the Interstate Highway System.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023
AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule that requires all new motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment. (AM broadcast stations are often used to deliver emergency alerts and news and entertainment programming; some newer vehicles do not include AM equipment.) Specifically, this bill applies to motor vehicles manufactured in the United States, imported into the United States, or shipped in interstate commerce after the rule's effective date. The DOT rule must require all such vehicles to have devices that can receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast stations or digital audio AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment. Prior to the effective date of the rule, manufacturers that do not include devices that can access AM broadcast stations as standard equipment must inform purchasers of this fact through clear and conspicuous labeling. DOT may assess civil penalties against any manufacturer that fails to comply with the mandate. The Department of Justice may also bring a civil action to enjoin a violation. Further, the Government Accountability Office must study and report on whether a reliable alternative communication system exists for delivering emergency alerts and consider the (1) cost to drivers and passengers of receiving communications through an alternative system, and (2) cost and time required to develop and implement an alternative.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023
Soo Locks Security and Economic Reporting Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Transportation to report on security at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and to recommend improvements. The report must include details about current security measures and the potential effects of a malfunction or failure. It must also recommend ways to strengthen security and reduce the impact of a malfunction or failure on the supply chain of the United States.