Pete Buttigieg Defends DOT Finances Request

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A listening to within the U.S. Senate this week to look at the White Home’s fiscal 2024 funds request will function the nation’s prime transportation officer.

Secretary Pete Buttigieg is scheduled to seem earlier than the transportation appropriations subcommittee March 23 to elucidate President Joe Biden’s $6.9 trillion funds proposal, which incorporates the Division of Transportation.

The secretary is amongst a number of senior administration officers getting ready to seem earlier than lawmakers on Capitol Hill over the following a number of weeks. In keeping with background the division supplied, the request “will construct on our large progress by prioritizing necessary infrastructure enhancements, revolutionary security interventions, key techniques modernizations, and a mess of recent and persevering with grant applications that put money into transportation tasks that affect American folks’s lives.”

Particularly, it might present $951.3 million for the Federal Motor Provider Security Administration. That allocation consists of $435 million for its security operations division and $516.3 million for its motor service security grants unit. FMCSA is tasked with regulating industrial autos, resembling heavy-duty vehicles and buses.

“FMCSA’s mission is to avoid wasting lives by lowering the quantity and severity of crashes involving massive vehicles and buses. The company accomplishes this mission via training, prevention, regulation, enforcement and collaboration with motor carriers and industrial drivers. FMCSA additionally makes use of analysis, revolutionary expertise, and grants to states to attain a transportation system with safer folks, safer roads, safer speeds and safer autos,” per the funds doc.

It continued that the company is “liable for imposing the federal motor service security rules, the hazardous supplies rules, and the industrial rules for motor carriers, industrial drivers and industrial motor autos working in the USA, together with these from Mexico and Canada.”

As anticipated, the president’s funds sparked partisan reactions on Capitol Hill. “President Biden’s funds is a highway map for a stronger America that places working folks—not billionaires and large companies—first, and units our nation as much as thrive within the a long time to return,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) stated quickly after the funds was launched this month. “The president’s plan invests in American households, strengthens Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Safety for the following technology, and makes our nation safer and extra aggressive — whereas reducing the deficit and setting us on a greater fiscal path.”

Home Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) shared a special perspective: “As we face rising threats at our border and across the globe, the president’s proposal spends far an excessive amount of on pointless applications on the expense of our nationwide safety. America merely can’t afford this misguided plan. Congress will now get to work, reviewing it line by line to determine applications that don’t require further investments and to insert our personal priorities.”

The Week Forward (all instances Jap)

March 22, 10 a.m.: The Senate Commerce Committee meets to think about the nomination of Phillip Washington to be administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. A listening to on freight rail insurance policies will happen after the vote on the nomination. Witnesses embrace Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio); Misti Allison, resident of East Palestine, Ohio; Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the Nationwide Transportation Security Board; and Alan Shaw, CEO of Norfolk Southern.

March 22, 10 a.m.: The Senate Surroundings and Public Works Committee examines the Environmental Safety Company funds with Administrator Michael Regan.

March 23, 10 a.m.: Secretary Buttigieg is scheduled to seem earlier than the Senate appropriations transportation subcommittee.

March 23, 10 a.m.: The Home Aviation Subcommittee meets for a listening to titled, “FAA Reauthorization: Navigating the Complete Passenger Expertise.”

March 23, 10:30 a.m.: A Home appropriations subcommittee meets with Vitality Secretary Jennifer Granholm to assessment the president’s fiscal 2024 funds request.

Freight Hall

Searching for these West Virginia nation roads.

Legislative Docket

Laws meant to safeguard sure identifiable data of people shifting internationally not too long ago was launched within the U.S. Home of Representatives. This month, Reps. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) and Invoice Pascrell (D-N.J.) launched the bipartisan Transferring Individuals Privateness Safety Act. The invoice would require U.S. Customs and Border Safety to take away personally identifiable data from cargo manifests earlier than public disclosure. Such data consists of Social Safety and passport numbers. The measure is particular to people shifting internationally with family items.

“The non-public data of each American ought to be secure and safe,” Waltz, a member of the Home Armed Providers committee, stated March 10. “Nonetheless, as a result of present public disclosure of cargo manifests, our service members and their households expertise the next threat of id theft and fraud as they transfer overseas.”

The Florida Republican added, “It’s important we take the mandatory steps to guard them towards harmful and fraudulent exercise. That’s why I’m proud to introduce laws within the Home to safe worldwide journey and assist safeguard the livelihoods of Individuals.”

Buzz

In a latest letter to senior members of the U.S. Senate, American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear expressed considerations in regards to the monitor report that Labor Secretary nominee Julie Su would deliver to the highest publish on the Labor Division. At challenge is her viewpoint on the rights of economic drivers to work as impartial contractors.

Favourite Video

A imaginative and prescient zero transportation world awaits.

Favourite Tweet

T&I’s H2O FYI, ICYMI

It’s time to ditch Biden’s new WOTUS rule. American farmers, households, and small enterprise homeowners want clear guidelines that defend clear water, no more purple tape and rules. pic.twitter.com/1xJtMAJZ5K

— Rep. Sam Graves (@RepSamGraves) March 9, 2023

The Final Phrase

Even a short look on the Home GOP proposal is sufficient to present it’s not a critical bundle.

Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on March 15 concerning H.R. 1

We publish Mondays when Congress is in session. See earlier installments of Capitol Agenda right here. E-mail emulero@ttnews.com with ideas. Observe us @eugenemulero and @transporttopics.

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