Gardner’s bipartisan bill addresses nation’s need for transportation industry professionals

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) recently introduced the bipartisan Promoting Service in Transportation Act to increase career opportunities throughout America’s transportation industry.

“Colorado’s growing population and economy demand our transportation systems keep pace,” Sen. Gardner said on Feb. 28. “Pilots, bus drivers, truck drivers, technicians, and more are needed to support Colorado’s transportation priorities, and this bipartisan legislation is aimed at helping connect workers in the Centennial State to transportation job opportunities.”

Sen. Gardner on Feb. 13 signed on as an original cosponsor of S. 3303 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) to direct the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to deploy public awareness campaigns highlighting job opportunities in the transportation sector to help fill existing and future workforce shortages.

“As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, supporting jobs in the transportation industry is even more vital,” said Sen. Peters, who added that the bill also will help “build a diverse workforce with the skills needed to succeed in today’s economy.”

The Senate measure is the identical bill to the same-named H.R. 5118, introduced in November 2019 by U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Don Young (R-AK).

If enacted, the bill would authorize the development of public awareness campaigns that highlight the need for a diverse number of professional truck drivers, mechanics, railroad workers, air traffic controllers, pilots, and other transportation professionals.

The bill has been endorsed by numerous organizations, including the National Business Aviation Association, the Air Line Pilots Association, the Transport Workers Union, the Association of Flight Attendants, the National Air Transportation Association, and the American Trucking Associations, among many others.