Late last week, the US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced a $547 billion surface transportation bill, largely along party lines, 38-26. The House will take up the bill the week of June 28.  Committee members had submitted over 225 amendments, extending the mark-up through last Wednesday night. One provision that did make it into the final text that could negatively impact independent owner-operator drivers, especially in the ag input industry, is an increase in motor carriers’ minimum liability insurance from $750,000 to $2 million. Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) offered an amendment that would have prevented the increase, which was promptly struck down by committee members.

 

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved its portion of the Senate’s Highway bill by a vote of 25-3.  This legislative piece (S. 2016) of the Senate’s Highway/surface transportation bill authorizes $78 billion over five years. This includes $36 billion for rail, $28 billion in multimodal grants, $13 billion for safety, and $25 billion for Amtrak.
 
IFCA and the Ag Retailers Association are asking members of congress to support an amendment that would modernize the Farm-Related Restricted Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or more commonly referred to as the “Seasonal Ag CDL” program.  This amendment would do two things: