House Approves Highway Bill with Key Trucking Priorities
Shortly after midnight on Friday, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee approved a bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill that included many key priorities for the trucking industry. ATA hailed passage of the BUILD America 250 Act, which will make major investments in roads, bridges, truck parking construction, and key safety programs.
ATA has been deeply engaged throughout the legislative process and supported many of the underlying standalone bills that were incorporated in the bill or added as amendments. For more details on pro-trucking wins by ATA, click here.
The bill will now be debated on the House floor. The Senate must also produce its own proposal before Congress can finalize a reauthorization bill and send it to the President’s desk. With programs currently slated to expire on September 30th, weeks before the midterm elections, a short-term extension is likely before programs receive long-term funding and guidance.
House Appropriators Propose Another $200 Million for Truck Parking
Last Thursday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) approved its proposal for FY2027 funding. Building on a major victory for trucking that was enacted in the FY2026 bill, the appropriators again included $200 million in proposed funding for the construction of safe truck parking. This additional funding was a top priority request for ATA again this year.
Both ATA and the Arkansas Trucking Association hailed this additional proposed funding and will work to support its inclusion in a final spending package later this year. The bill will be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee in June before heading to the House floor for a vote later this summer. ATA expects that additional funding instructions to the agency will be provided by the Committee next month and will address additional key priorities.
Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act Passes House
Last week, the House approved the ATA-supported Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act by voice vote. ATA applauded passage of the measure. This bill is sponsored by Reps. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA) and would allow the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to act as the sole approving agency for these apprenticeship programs for interstate motor carriers, rather than delegating approvals to state VA agencies.
Following House approval, the bill now awaits consideration by the Senate. A companion measure there is sponsored by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). ATA will work closely with the bill sponsors and other members who are champions on trucking and workforce issues to advance this legislation to the President’s desk.
DOT Secretary Duffy Testifies Before Senate
Last Tuesday, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) about the proposed DOT budget for fiscal year 2027. The hearing was a spirited debate, with Democratic appropriators focused on details of the Secretary’s Great American Road Trip reality-tv style program, which was sponsored by private entity contributions to a non-governmental nonprofit. The intent of the program is to encourage Americans to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Despite a contentious discussion, the Senate Appropriations Committee remains on track to release their revisions to the President’s budget proposal in June.
Senate Confirms Key DOT, FMC Nominees
Last week, the Senate confirmed a large nominations package to fill key roles in the Trump Administration. Among the 49 confirmed nominees were Seval Oz, to serve as Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology; Robert Harvey, to serve as a Federal Maritime Commissioner; and Richard Kloster to serve as a member of the Surface Transportation Board.
ATA will work closely with these newly appointed officials to ensure that the needs of the trucking industry are addressed at every opportunity. ATA will also work with Congress to encourage the swift confirmation of additional qualified nominees as they are sent to Congress by the Trump Administration.
Senate Debate Paused on CBP, ICE Funding
Last Thursday, Senate Republicans paused debate on the party-line proposal to fund CBP and ICE operations for three years. The proposal, sought through a process called budget reconciliation that allows for expedited Senate approval of limited tax and spending changes by a simple majority vote, was expected to be finalized by the Trump Administration as early as June 1st.
The political factors complicating the debate were unpopularity of providing security construction funding for the President’s renovation of the East Wing of the White House, public outcry over a Department of Justice settlement providing $1.8 billion to White House allies, the primary defeat of Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) by a Trump-endorsed opponent, and the Trump endorsement of Ken Paxton in a Texas primary against Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). Debate on the measure will resume in June.
House Energy & Commerce Approves Vehicle Safety Piece of Highway Bill
While the House T&I Committee engaged in a marathon markup of its portion of the Highway Bill, the Energy & Commerce Committee held a shorter markup to approve its portion of the reauthorization. This section mainly addresses vehicle safety standards. Of note, the Committee approved a proposal for Right to Repair, which will be added to the T&I product.
Additional measures including the SELF DRIVE Act, which would establish a federal framework for testing autonomous vehicles and is sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), and the DRIVER Act, which would require vehicle manufacturers to share technical information with consumers and is sponsored by Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), were discussed but not put up for a vote in Committee.
ATA will work closely with champions on this Committee as well as other key members of the House as the chamber prepares to debate its Highway Bill later this summer.
Election Update
Last Tuesday, May 19th, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Alabama held their primaries. The results of closely watched races are below:
Kentucky: Rep. Thomas Massie (R) lost by 10 points to Former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein. Massie has consistently been a thorn in President Trump’s side, and he spent a significant amount of money to see Gallrein prevail. Additionally, Rep. Andy Barr (R) advanced to fill retiring Senator Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat.
Georgia: Neither Rep. Mike Collins nor former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley amassed enough votes to avoid a Republican primary on June 16th. Rep. Buddy Carter received 3rd place and will not be returning to Congress next year. In Georgia’s first district, Jim Kingston, an insurance broker, advanced to fill Carter’s seat and State Rep. Jasmine Clark (D) advanced in GA-13 to fill the late Rep. David Scott’s (D) seat.
Alabama: In more runoff woes, Rep. Barry Moore and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson will both face off in a June 16th Republican runoff for the Senate seat.
Texas: Today, Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will face off in the closely watched Texas Senate primary. After much anticipation, President Trump endorsed Paxton last week while early voting was underway. Democrats are closely watching this race in hopes of a chance at flipping the Senate.
Committee Notes
- On May 19th, the House Ways & Means Tax Subcommittee held a hearing on the benefits Americans experienced from the Working Families Tax Cuts this tax season.
- On May 21st, the full committee held a markup of eight bills related to anti-fraud, health, and Social Security.
- On May 18th, House Education & Workforce Chairman Tim Walberg cheered the announcement of the Department of Education’s final rule on expanding Pell Grant eligibility which will now include CDL schools. ATA worked closely with the Committee and Republican leadership to get this provision included in the Working Families Tax Cuts last year.
- On May 21st, the Committee additionally held a markup of five bills related to employment opportunities for those with disabilities, ways to strengthen civics education, retirement security, and decreasing health care costs.
- On May 20th, Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) to introduce the Restoring Overtime Pay Act, which would increase the overtime salary threshold from $35,568 to $89,000 by 2030.
Grassroots Update
Looking ahead, the Arkansas Trucking Association will be in town on June 2nd. 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 recess this week. The next Hill Report will be sent on June 8th.