The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved a package of bills May 23 aimed at strengthening American supply chains and protecting them from potential disruptions. In total, the T&I Committee approved 12 new pieces of legislation and five additional measures.

The following pieces of legislation were approved by the T&I Committee:

• H.R. 3399 – directs a federal study identifying the potential security risks of the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and the economic impact of their operational failure.
• H.R. 1836 – builds on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 by allowing the Federal Maritime Commission to review market manipulation and anti-competitive complaints.
• H.R. 2367 – increases resources for the construction of new Commercial Motor Vehicle parking (CMV). It also requires all constructed parking spaces to be available to CMVs free of charge.
• H.R. 3013 – creates two permanent waivers issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration allowing for more efficient Commercial Driver’s License testing.
• H.R. 3318 – creates a 10% axle weight variance for dry bulk goods, ensuring trucks don’t have to unnecessarily reduce their loads.
• H.R. 3316 – extends One Federal Decision environmental reviews to major port, aviation and pipeline projects.
• H.R. 3365 – ensures priority considerations are given to projects that would improve or build on supply chain resiliency under the INFRA and MEGA grant programs.
• H.R. 1500 – allows the Secretary of Transportation to bolster transportation management and the efficiency of federal-aid highways through the use of third-party data.
• H.R. 915 – requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to develop a new Safety Fitness Determination process changing the way motor carriers are rated.
• H.R. 3317 – prevents four public transportation agencies from continuing to use Federal Transit Administration funds to obtain rolling stocks from State Owned Enterprises.
• H.R. 3372 – establishes a ten-year pilot program for states to increase truck weights up to 91,000 lbs. on federal interstates.
• H.R. 2948 – allows a 10% weight increase for certain types of automobile transporters.

“We’re pleased the Committee approved a package of bipartisan bills that collectively aim to prevent disruptions within our incredibly complex, global supply chain system by tackling the many weaknesses exposed by the pandemic,” said Tom Madrecki, vice president of supply chain and logistics for the Consumer Brands Association. “The legislation passed today represents a step in the right direction in the ongoing fight to alleviate the supply chain challenges that threaten to invoke devastating ripple effects on consumers if they go ignored.”