ATA Pushes Lawsuit Abuse Reforms on Capitol Hill
This week, leaders within the ATA Federation met with key lawmakers to advocate for tort reforms that will protect the trucking industry from abusive lawsuits. Meeting with Democrat and Republican leaders of the Judiciary Committees in both the House and Senate, these meetings focused on the need for legislation to set disclosure requirements for third-party litigation financing, move cases from judicial hellholes to federal courts, and criminalize staged accidents.
These meetings complement the messaging of participants in ATA’s Call on Washington program, where individual trucking companies share their stories of abusive lawsuits with their delegations on Capitol Hill. Champions of the industry on Capitol Hill committed to raising the profile of this issue and advancing legislation to protect trucking from these bad actors.
House T&I Eyes Mid-May Highway Bill Markup
This week, leaders of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee indicated that the long-awaited markup of the next surface transportation reauthorization is now expected to occur in mid-May. This reauthorization will address key priorities for the trucking industry, including making major investments in our nation’s highways, clarifying CDL issuance requirements for states, investing in highway safety, and improving workforce development programs.
ATA is also working with other key committees in the House and Senate to include additional trucking priorities in their proposals. Congress must extend highway funding by September 30th, which will require action by both the House and Senate.
Senate Advances Budget Measure to Resolve Homeland Security Funding
As the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security passed two months, Senate Republicans advanced a new budget proposal by a vote of 50-48. This proposal would allow House and Senate Republicans to provide multi-year funding for Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As this proposal advances in the House, pressure will increase on Congress to agree to funding for other component agencies in the Department of Homeland Security. Those agencies, including TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard, will be out of money to pay their employees at the end of the month.
First FY27 Spending Bills Pass Committee
Last week, the House Appropriations Committee passed the first two of twelve annual appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year 2027. The Committee has set an ambitious schedule to review the President’s budget request for all federal agencies and finish its legislative proposals by late spring. ATA will work closely with champions on both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to ensure that the priorities of the trucking industry are addressed in these proposals at every opportunity.
House Members Write to HHS on Hair Testing
Last Thursday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche ordered the immediate reclassification of FDA-approved and state-licensed marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
Prior to DOJ’s action, six members of the House of Representatives wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services to urge the agency to finalize scientific and technical guidelines for the use of hair testing as a means for motor carriers to detect drug use in drivers. This timely letter, which was sent at ATA’s request, 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, Virginia voters narrowly approved the creation of a heavily gerrymandered map that could result in a delegation of 10 Democrats and 1 Republican. The gerrymandering effort for control of the House continues this week with the Florida state legislature voting on their new congressional maps.
The voting totals of House Democrats shifted with both arrivals and departures last week. Newly elected Analilia Mejia (D-NJ) was sworn into office while Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) announced she will resign prior to a public House Ethics Committee hearing on charges of corruption. Additionally, 12-term Representative David Scott (D-GA) passed away. These changes maintain slim voting margins in the House chamber of 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats, 1 Independent, and 5 vacancies.
Committee Notes
- On April 21st, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a markup to advance the reauthorization of A Stronger Workforce for America Act (WIOA). ATA will continue to work with champions to ensure trucking’s priorities are included in the final package.
- Last week, two key committees announced membership changes. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee gained Rep. Clay Fuller (R-GA), who recently filled Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat. In the Senate, Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) became Chairman of the Employment & Workplace Safety Subcommittee.
- On April 22nd, the House Ways & Means Committee heard the first of many testimonies from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer ahead of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement official review on July 1st. USTR Greer trumpeted improvements to the trade deficit due to the Trump Administration’s trade policies and asked for Congress’ support on tariffs. He committed to working with the Committee on renewing USMCA, but with changes specifically around rules of origin. Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) confirmed this is a top priority for him as well.
- Looking ahead this week:
- The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold hearings for the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Education, and the National Nuclear Security Administration with the leaders of each agency testifying on their FY2027 budget proposals;
- The House Appropriations Committee will hold hearings for the Department of Labor and the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss their FY2027 budget proposals. They will also hold subcommittee markups for National Security & Department of State, Agriculture, FDA, and Commerce, Justice, and Science.
Grassroots Update
Last week, the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, Minnesota Trucking Association, and Kentucky Trucking Association were in town to meet with their full delegations for their Calls on Washington. WMCA’s meetings included Reps. Scott Fitzgerald, Tom Tiffany, and Glen Grothman, who are all key Republican Judiciary leaders engaged on lawsuit abuse. MTA met with both of their Senators and their staff to share their stories about staged accidents. KTA discussed the importance of passing the safety title of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill with House Energy & Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and trucking’s appropriations asks with Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
The California Trucking Association will be the next group to visit Capitol Hill on May 12th. 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 May 4th.