Washington, DC – The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved by voice vote, The Surface Transportation Safety Reauthorization Act of 2003, an original Commerce Committee bill, to address the many TEA-21 reauthorization safety issues under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Committee. The purpose of this bill is to improve travel safety on our nation’s roads and waterways; strengthen federal passenger, truck, and bus safety programs; provide greater consumer protections for household goods movements; and promote the safe shipment of hazardous materials. The bill will be offered as an amendment to the underlying TEA-21 reauthorization legislation when it is considered by the full Senate.
The bill authorizes funding for the following programs:
· National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
· Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
· Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety program
· Boating Safety and Sport Fish restoration programs
The Committee adopted the following amendments to the Committee’s safety title:
· An amendment by Senator McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Hollings (D-SC) to make changes to the underlying bill.
Click here for a PDF version of the McCain/Hollings amendment to the Surface Transportation Safety Reauthorization bill. Title I – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Reauthorization
· An amendment by Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) to require a study on refusal to take a blood alcohol test.
Click here for a PDF version of the Lautenberg amendment. · An amendment by Senator Fitzgerald (R-IL) to create an incentive grant program to encourage states to adopt booster seat laws.
Click here for a PDF version of the Fitzgerald amendment. Title II – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Reauthorization
· Two amendments by Senator Burns (R-MT) to modify federal hours-of-service requirements for operators of commercial motor vehicles for transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies and to exempt drivers of utility service vehicles from requirements relating to operators of commercial motor vehicles.
Click here for a PDF version of the Burns amendment on hours-of-service requirements. Click here for a PDF version of the Burns amendment on exemption from requirements. · An amendment by Senator Breaux (D-LA) to establish a uniform registration system for motor carriers.
· Two amendments by Senator Dorgan (D-ND) to require background checks for Mexican and Canadian drivers hauling hazardous materials and require trucks manufactured abroad to meet U.S. manufactures’ standards that operate in the U.S. Click here for a Microsoft Word version of the Dorgan amendment on background checks. Click here for a PDF version of the Dorgan amendment on on manufacturer standards. · An amendment by Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) freezing current length limits of motor vehicles operating on federal-aid highways, taking away states’ authority to set length standards of vehicles on roads that are part of the 150,000 mile National Highway System.
Click here for a PDF version of the Lautenberg amendment. Title IV – Hazardous Materials Transportation Act Reauthorization
· Two amendments by Senator Boxer (D-CA) to provide for state and local government participation in decision-making and to provide public participation in, and judicial review of, decision-making.
Other amendments:
· An amendment by Senator Lott (R-MI) and Senator Kerry (D-MA) for rail line relocation projects.
Click here for a PDF version of the Lott-Kerry amendment. · An amendment by Senator Hutchison (R-TX) to authorize $2 billion for fiscal years 2004 through 2009 for Amtrak, and to establish a Rail Infrastructure Finance Corporation.
Click here for a PDF version of the Hutchison amendment.
· An amendment by Senator Smith (D-OR) and Senator Breaux (D-LA) for shortline railroad rehabilitation.
Click here for a PDF version of the Smith-Breaux amendment.
· An amendment by Senator Wyden (D-OR) to require the proceeds of any federal bonds issued for passenger rail infrastructure to be available for any qualified transportation infrastructure project.
Click here for a PDF version of the Wyden amendment. In addition, the Committee-approved bill includes the Household Goods Mover Oversight Enforcement and Reform Title and a Recreational Boating Safety Reauthorization Title. The Committee held three hearings relating to the development of the Committee=s TEA-21 reauthorization safety title. On May 21, 2003, the full Committee held a hearing on the Administration=s reauthorization proposal, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (SAFETEA). On May 22, 2003, the Subcommittee on Competition, Foreign Commerce, and Infrastructure held a hearing on the reauthorization of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and its programs. And, on June 10, 2002, the full Committee held a hearing on reauthorization of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) programs and responsibilities. ###