The House Ground Transportation Committee is considering introducing, before its traditional August recess, some kind of legislation to strengthen or reorganize the OMCHS. In May, it looked as though the committee might be looking seriously at the idea of establishing a new motor carrier administration. The weight of public sentiment in support for congressional action appeared to overcome the natural Republican aversion to creating a new bureaucracy.
Then Mineta proposed a more modest plan in the name of safety and cost effectiveness. This may have made it a little harder for lawmakers who would prefer to reduce the federal government to support the creation of a brand new modal administration. As of this report, however, the committee appears to be considering all of its options.
Over in the Senate, Sen. McCain is reportedly on the verge of proposing legislation that would take the regulation of motor carriers out of the FHWA, but does not go so far as to propose a motor carrier administration. By the next Washington Insider, Congress’ intentions for the OMCHS should be much clearer.
theMinetareport
As we reported in the June/July issue, the day after DOT announced its safety action plan, former Democratic Chairman of the House of Representatives Transportation Committee, Norman Mineta, presented his view of trucking safety issues to Congress. One of Mineta’s recommendations is to move the regulation of OMCHS (Office of Motor Carriers and Highway Safety) to a more prominent position in the Federal Highway Administration, holding equal status to, but separate from, the highway construction regulators. Under the Mineta plan, there would be a Deputy Administrator for Highways and a Deputy Administrator for Motor Carrier Safety. Giving motor carrier safety a higher profile within FHWA, Mineta reasoned, will strengthen the department’s ability to conduct safety activities.
What is most interesting about this recommendation is that Mineta took into consideration the congressional majority’s dislike for federal bureaucracy. He stated that his recommendations, if implemented, would provide improvements in safety regulation with minimal additional federal spending. This raises the question of whether prudent recommendations of a former Democratic member of Congress may take the steam out of any current support in Congress for a new Motor Carrier Administration.
