U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH) recently proposed four amendments and alternative legislation to provide Republican solutions and reforms to a proposed national surface transportation bill.
Specifically, Rep. Balderson on June 18 cosponsored the Surface Transportation Advanced through Reform, Technology, and Efficient Review (STARTER) Act, H.R. 7248, with bill sponsor U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) and 20 fellow committee members as an alternative to the Democrats’ INVEST in America Act, H.R. 2.
“We must work together to achieve positive change for all Americans — which is why I’m a proud co-author of the STARTER Act,” Rep. Balderson said on June 19. “Together, I believe our parties can find common ground not only on surface transportation reforms, but also a larger infrastructure package.”
If enacted, H.R. 7248 would substitute H.R. 2, which was introduced earlier this month to authorize fiscal year (FY) 2021 funds for federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, according to the text of H.R. 2.
H.R. 7248 — which also would authorize FY 2021 highway safety and transit programs, as well as federal-aid highways — would include provisions related to nationally significant freight and highway projects, a national highway freight program, truck parking safety improvement, environmental reviews for major projects, formula grants for rural areas, grants for bus and bus facilities, technical assistance and workforce development, and national priority safety programs.
“Transportation issues universally affect Ohioans’ everyday lives,” said Rep. Balderson. “When constructing much-needed reforms to surface transportation, it’s critical my colleagues and I set aside politics and instead prioritize the needs of all of our constituents through commonsense solutions that rebuild our roads and create jobs.”
Rep. Balderson’s amendments to H.R. 2 would include several initiatives, such as establishing an apprenticeship program to train qualified 18- to 20-year-old commercial driver’s license holders to safely operate in interstate trucking commerce, according to information provided by the congressman’s office.
Additional amendments to H.R. 2 include those to strike the arbitrary time limit that would impose a 10-minute time limit for trains, locomotives, railroad cars, or other rail equipment blocking public grade crossings and a $25,000 fine for violators; and to include motorcyclists in a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) study created by H.R. 2 on safe interactions between automated vehicles and road users, according to the information.
The American Motorcyclist Association and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation both thanked Rep. Balderson for his work to support their members.
Among the 20 GOP members who joined Rep. Balderson in cosponsoring H.R. 7248 were U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Pete Stauber (R-MN).