First House Transportation Hearing Addresses Infrastructure Funding Issues

In the first of a series of Congressional hearings that will lay the groundwork for Congress to draft infrastructure legislation, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 7 heard from elected officials as well as members of the private sector. Among those who testified were Former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and UPS Freight President Rich McArdle, who testified on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Witnesses were pressed to address their positions on various funding options, including whether increasing the motor fuels taxes, tolling or public private partnerships were viable methods for funding the nation’s long-term infrastructure needs.

President Offers No Details on Infrastructure in State of the Union

President Donald Trump renewed his call for a major infrastructure investment during his State of the Union address on Jan. 5, but offered no details on his plans as he urged Republicans and Democrats to work together to pass legislation to rebuild and revitalize the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.

VA. General Assembly Tables I-81 Tolls This Session

Efforts to toll Interstate 81 in Virginia appear to have been put on hold this legislative session after the Virginia Senate Finance Committee adopted a substitute measure that establishes the Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Fund but does not identify any funding options for improving Interstate 81.

NATSO Comments on Reexamination of Joint Employer Standard

NATSO on January 28 submitted formal comments to the National Labor Relations Board as part of the NLRB’s reexamination of the “joint employer” standard. NATSO’s testimony supported the NLRB’s reexamination of the joint employer standard, which was revised during the Obama Administration to expand the scope of determining “co-employment” under the National Labor Relations Act.

NATSO Welcomes Furloughed Food and Nutrition Service Employees

NATSO joined a letter with other organizations welcoming furloughed employees of the Food and Nutrition Service, which administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps), back to work after having been furloughed during the government shutdown.

NATSO Foundation Helps Alabama Fight Human Trafficking

The NATSO Foundation will join the Alabama Attorney General, the Alabama Trucking Association and Truckers Against Trafficking Feb. 12 in sponsoring a coalition meeting in Montgomery, Ala., aimed at coordinating ways to fight human trafficking within the state.

RIN Management Challenges Reported Due to Government Shutdown

Along with many other frustrations stemming from the current government shutdown, some renewable fuel producers, marketers and blenders are experiencing interruptions in daily business operations within the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) moderated transaction system (EMTS).

Active Alerts:

For all alerts and more info please visit: www.AmberAlert.gov