Last week, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee introduced the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act (S. 1732), which is the Commerce Committee’s title for a surface transportation reauthorization bill. The six-year bill includes a provision that would make permanent the exemption given by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to the ready mixed concrete industry for the Hours of Service 30-minute break rule. The bill addresses the overall exemption process by reforming the application process for exemption requests and extends the time period for an exemption from two years to five before an applicant must reapply. Most importantly, the bill allows FMCSA to make exemptions already issued permanent.

The inclusion of this language in S. 1732 marks a huge win for NRMCA and the ready mixed concrete industry. The bill will be marked up in the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, July 15; it is expected to be a bipartisan markup. The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee still needs to introduce legislation for the transit portion and the Senate Finance Committee is still working to find a way to pay for the entire surface transportation package. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced late last week that he intends to bring a highway package to the floor sometime this week or next. NRMCA, along with members of the Highway Materials Group (HMG), sent a letter to Members of Congress requesting support for a long-term, fully-funded transportation bill before the latest extension expires on July 31. Members in the HMG include the American Coal Ash Association, American Concrete Pavement Association, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Associated Equipment Distributors, Concrete Steel Reinforcing Institute, National Asphalt Pavement Association, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association and Portland Cement Association. In addition, the Transportation Construction Coalition sent a similar letter supporting action on a long-term, fully-funded bill.