U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted on Wednesday voted to advance legislation out of committee that would reauthorize funding for the Transportation Department, as well as institute operational changes, including rail-infrastructure upkeep.
The committee advanced the legislation on a 13-11 vote.
The Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act (S. 1732) would reauthorize the office of the Secretary of Transportation, enhance transportation-safety programs, streamline grant programs and improve oversight efforts. The proposed bill also installs provisions for repairing and maintaining passenger rails, which stem from legislation introduced last month by Wicker and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).
“This bill is an essential component in equipping our nation with a long-term transportation and infrastructure plan,” Wicker said. “Under Republican leadership, Congress is inching closer to enacting meaningful and comprehensive transportation legislation. I am particularly pleased that the bill includes my proposal to make key rail-safety improvements, enhance rail infrastructure, encourage competition and make smart use of taxpayer dollars.”
Th This legislation will be combined with S. 1647, the DRIVE Act, along with measures from other Senate committees, forming a legislative package commonly referred to as The Highway Bill or the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.
Wicker has spent much of the past year working on transportation issues. He successfully added a second provision which revises the National Automotive Sampling System to include the collection of data during car crashes when a child restraint system was in use, allowing the American Academy of Pediatrics and local law enforcement to collect data to help determine the efficiency and safety of the 5-point harness recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Senator was also instrumental in including a provision authored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), which sets minimum tire performance standards and bolsters the level of consumer notification of tire recalls.