U.S. Reps. David Valadao (R-CA) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) recently joined nine of their Republican colleagues to cosponsor a bill that would require the U.S. Transportation Secretary to relieve congested ports during either a national state of emergency or when ports are congested by 50 percent or more.
“Our nation is facing horrific supply chain challenges, and it is vital that Congress acts,” Rep. Valadao said. “Billions of dollars worth of goods are currently sitting off the coast of California, yet the administration has put forward no serious solutions to resolve this crisis.”
“Oklahoma’s agriculture industry isn’t immune to the global supply chain crisis,” Rep. Lucas tweeted on Nov. 3. “With fertilizer prices soaring near 2008 highs, costs are hampering farmers’ abilities to plant their crops and provide an affordable food and fiber supply.”
The Truckers Responding At National Shipping Ports Overcoming Retail Turmoil (TRANSPORT) Act, H.R. 5846, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS), would direct the Transportation Secretary to establish a program to provide federal grants from unused relief dollars to motor carriers and motor private carriers to transport goods during those times, according to the congressional record bill summary.
“Through this legislation, we will alleviate our supply chain challenges and help our nations’ businesses to return to normal operations,” said Rep. Valadao.
If enacted, H.R. 5846 also would temporarily waive operating standards if they are more stringent than the federal standard to allow U.S. Department of Transportation-compliant trucks and drivers from other states to relieve ports and transport goods across the country, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Valadao’s office.
H.R. 5846 has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee.