SAFER Transport Act Introduced in House
Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC) introduced the House version of the SAFER Transport Act. This bill, which is led by Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) in the Senate, will provide much-needed resources and Congressional direction to USDOT to combat fraud in trucking. Specifically, the bill will modernize and secure FMCSA’s registration system, phase out MC numbers in favor of a single USDOT identifier, strengthen fraud detection and anti-fraud enforcement, improve CDL issuance and training provider oversight, increase penalties for fraudsters, and improve agency coordination for enforcement. ATA strongly supports this bill and will work to include it as part of the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization.
Congressional Republicans Look to Reconciliation for DHS Funding
As the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security surpasses 60 days, Republicans in the House and Senate are eyeing budget reconciliation to provide multi-year funding for Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before funding remaining DHS agencies such as TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, FEMA, and the Secret Service.
House, Senate Look to April for Highway Bill Proposals
Stakeholders are anticipating action on the surface transportation reauthorization in the coming weeks. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee is expected to move first, potentially as early as the end of April, and will be followed by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Both committees will address key issues for the trucking industry. Once the House and Senate Committees have produced legislation, both chambers will consider bills and negotiate a compromise that can be sent to the President. This process will likely last beyond the current September 30th deadline for reauthorization, so ATA expects a short-term extension while Congress works on the bill.
FY2027 Appropriations Process Begins
With the release of the President’s budget on April 3rd, Congress began the process of setting federal agency spending levels for the upcoming fiscal year. The House and Senate will hold a series of oversight hearings with agency leadership to discuss the budget proposal, and then the Appropriations Committees in both chambers will propose adjustments to the President’s budget levels. The House will move first for all agencies and began last week by holding budget hearings for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Energy. ATA will work closely with champions in Congress to address priorities for the trucking industry at every opportunity.
House Members Write to HHS on Hair Testing
Six members of the House of Representatives wrote to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, encouraging the agency to finalize scientific and technical guidance so that motor carriers can use hair testing and report results to the FMCSA Alcohol and Drug Clearinghouse. The letter, led by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), notes that the agency was required to produce this guidance by the 2015 Highway Bill, and that these guidelines will help to improve the safety of the motoring public.
Election Update
Last week, New Jerey voters in the 11th Congressional District voted for progressive Analilia Mejia to fill the vacancy left by now-Governor Mikie Sherrill. Former Vice President Kamala Harris won the district by 9 points in 2024, and Mejia won the seat by a nearly 20-point margin. Looking ahead, the next primaries will be on May 5th when Indiana and Ohio head to the polls.
This Congress has had a record number of retirements and resignations. Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) both resigned from Congress last week over inappropriate relationships with their staffers. Reps. Cory Mills (R-FL) and Sheila Cherflius-McCormick (D-FL) also face calls to resign over other allegations of improprieties.
Committee Notes
- On April 15th, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on artificial intelligence and its potential impacts on the U.S. workforce. The competition between the U.S. and China was the frequent undertone of the discussion, as well as finding the right balance of government regulation.
- Looking ahead this week:
- The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold hearings for the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Treasury, and Health and Human Services with the leaders of each agency testifying on their FY2027 budget proposals;
- The House Appropriations Committee will hold hearings for the Departments of Energy and Interior to discuss their FY2027 budget proposals, and will hold subcommittee markups for four bills: Military Construction-VA, Financial Services and General Government, National Security & Department of State, and Agriculture-FDA; and
- The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on April 23rd where U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will testify on President Trump’s 2026 Trade Policy Agenda.
Grassroots Update
Last week, the Illinois Trucking Association and the Florida Trucking Association visited with their delegations. ITA met with their full delegation, including Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rep. Darrin LaHood (R-IL), and Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL). The group sought to find bipartisan solutions to cargo theft and infrastructure needs. FTA discussed tort reform with Sens. Ashley Moody (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) as well as Reps. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Maxwell Frost (D-FL).
Looking ahead, the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, Minnesota Trucking Association, and Kentucky Trucking Association will be in town on April 21st for their Calls on Washington. Interested in participating in Call on Washington or hosting a truck terminal visit with your Member of Congress? Email Abbey Schroeder (aschroeder@trucking.org).
The Week Ahead
Both the House and Senate are in session next week. The next Hill Report will be sent on April 27th.