Proceedings of
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Met at 10:00 AM
[jjs]
Morning Hour
1. Poe (R), TX (ADA Lawsuits)
2. Blumenauer (D), OR (Transportation)
3. Jones (R), NC (Afghanistan Spending)
4. McGovern (D), MA (Honduras Corruption)
5. Mooney (R), WV (Religious Freedom)
6. Costa (D), CA (Veteran Tributes)
7. Thompson, Glenn (R), PA (PA Oil Region)
8. Knight (R), CA (Strategic Bomber)
9. LaMalfa (R), CA (Water Regulations)
10. Duffy (R), WI (Maj. Justin Finch)
11. Ros-Lehtinen (R), FL (Kristallnacht)
Chair declared the House in recess at 10:47 AM until 12:00 PM.
[ler]
Chair reconvened the House at 12:00 PM.
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Journal approved.
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Westmoreland (R), GA led the House in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Johnson (R), TX (Veterans Day)
I host an annual veteran commendation ceremony for veterans nominated by their peers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Quigley (D), IL (Ex-Im Bank)
The reauthorization expires July 1st and this will hurt small minority owned businesses.
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Dold (R), IL (Diabetes Awareness Month)
29 million Americans suffer from this disease; we must educate to promote prevention.
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Bonamici (D), OR (Veterans Day)
Next Wednesday we recognize the millions of men and women serving our nation.
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Abraham (R), LA (Veterans Day)
The Franklin family gave 50 acres of land to develop a veteran’s cemetery.
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Gabbard (D), HI (Talia’s Law)
We must work to protect the children of military families from abuse.
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Westmoreland (R), GA (Constituent Tribute)
The Noonan Chamber was named the Chamber of the Year.
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Tonko (D), NY (Climate Change)
Acting on climate change is both the moral and economical “right thing to do.”
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Chabot (R), OH (Constituent Tribute)
Mason High School band was selected to participate in the Rose Bowl parade this year.
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Bera (D), CA (Diwali)
The festival of lights celebrates the accomplishments of South Asian communities.
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Paulsen (R), MN (Constituent Tribute)
For the 19th year the Edina High School girl’s tennis team won the championship.
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Veasey (R), TX (Constituent Tribute)
Mr. Robert E. Star served in the Army and will be missed in Ft. Worth.
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Carter (R), GA (Constituent Tribute)
Woody Woodside has dedicated his life to the success of the Brunswick community.
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Hahn (D), CA (H.R. 563)
In WWII more than 200,000 merchant mariners were excluded from benefits.
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Blackburn (R), TN (Senator Thompson Passing)
Sen. Fred Thompson was a friend and neighbor to many of us. We will miss him.
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Higgins (D), NY (Helmets to Hardhats)
Veteran Small Business Week is a great program assisting the transition to civilian life.
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Guinta (R), NH (Breast Cancer Awareness Month)
1 out of every 8 women suffers from breast cancer.
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Langevin (D), RI (National Apprentice Week)
We must work to expand apprentice opportunities to give people the skills they need.
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Thompson (R), PA (National Apprentice Week)
Training is important for those looking to enter into vocational fields.
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Clyburn (D), SC (Voting Rights)
Congress has failed to act to change necessary provisions of this act.
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Marchant (R), TX (Veterans Day)
My district is home to over 38,000 veterans and we thank them for their service.
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Adams (D), NC (Veterans Day)
Our veterans and their families are faced with many sacrifices, we honor them.
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Stefanik (R), NY (Farm to School Month)
This program provides fresh healthy foods for local school children and support farmers.
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Wilson (D), FL (Boko Haram)
We must do more to fight Boko Haram and to develop a regional strategy.
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Westerman (R), AR (Constituent Tribute)
Park Magnet School is a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School award winner.
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Olson (R), TX (Obamacare)
The President promised that patients could keep their health care plans. This is untrue.
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House Amendments to Senate Amendments to H.R. 22 - DRIVE Act
Rule – 1 Hour 12:38 PM
1. Woodall (R), GA
2. McGovern (D), MA [mcj]
3. Capps (D), CA
4. Sewell (D), AL
5. Adams (D), NC
6. Beatty (D), OH
Woodall (R), GA amendment to the rule (adds more amendments making a total of 35 amendments):
On ordering the previous question:
McGovern (D), MA asked recorded vote – 1:41 PM
[ric]
YEAS 241 NAYS 178
ORDERED 2:11 PM
On adoption of the rule:
Woodall (R), GA asked recorded vote - 2:11 PM
[584]
YEAS 248 NAYS 171
ADOPTED 2:19 PM
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Unfinished Business
H.Res. 354 – Sense of the House regarding the safety and security of Jewish communities in Europe
On susp. of rules & adoption, as amended (2/3):
Smith (R), NJ asked recorded vote - 2:20 PM
[585]
YEAS 418 NAYS 0
ADOPTED 2:27 PM
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H.R. 22 - DRIVE Act
Debate – 1 Hour 2:30 PM
[Simpson (R), ID presiding]
1. Shuster (R), PA
2. DeFazio (D), OR
3. Denham (R), CA
4. Holmes Norton (D), DC
5. Duncan (R), TN
6. Nadler (D), NY
7. Graves (R), MO
8. Brown (D), FL [jjs]
9. Hanna (R), NY
10. Hardy (R), NV
11. Blumenauer (D), OR
12. Katko (R), NY
13. Walters (R), CA
14. Comstock (R), VA
15. Rokita (R), IN
16. Hultgren (R), IL
Amendments 3:16 PM
Shuster (R), PA amend (#1):
Manager’s amendment that makes technical and conforming changes.
ADOPTED - VOICE 3:19 PM
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Swalwell (R), CA amend (#2):
Expands the eligibility of the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program to include innovative shared-use mobility projects that can reduce congestion and improve air quality.
Swalwell (D), CA asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote - 3:28 PM
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Walden (R), OR amend (#3):
Clarifies that projects within National Scenic Areas, and projects to increase capacity of highway segments to improve mobility, are eligible for federal funding under Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects.
ADOPTED - VOICE 3:34 PM
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Gosar (R), AZ amend (#5):
Requires the federal government to track the total number, cost, and time required for each environmental review of transportation projects when reporting the status of these projects to the public.
Gosar (R), AZ asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote - 3:41 PM
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Babin (R), TX amend (#6):
Designates the Central Texas Corridor as the future Interstate Route I-14.
ADOPTED - VOICE 3:46 PM
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Massie (R), KY amend (#7):
Allows the GSA to construct, install, and operate electric car charging stations on federal properties for use by employees, to be funded through user fees.
ADOPTED - VOICE 3:51 PM
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Fleischmann (R), TN amend (#8):
Encouraging the use of geosynthetic materials and other innovative technologies.
ADOPTED - VOICE 3:55 PM
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Gibbs (R), OH amend (#9):
Requires the Transportation secretary to study the methods state's use to procure culvert and storm sewer materials and report to the Transportation Committee.
ADOPTED - VOICE 3:58 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Gibson (R), NY amend (#10):
Directs the Transportation Secretary to develop a comprehensive strategy within a year to address “structurally deficient" and "functionally obsolete" bridges, as defined by the National Bridge Inventory, and to identify the unique challenges and policy solutions with regards to these respective categories.
[ler]
ADOPTED 4:01 PM
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Guinta (R), NH amend (#11):
Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study to understand the purchasing power of a federal highway dollar and quantifying the things that weaken it, such as labor and environmental regulations and other inefficiencies that cause delays and drive up the cost of projects.
REJECTED 4:05 PM
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Hanna (R), NY amend (#12):
Sense of the Congress that the engineering industry provides critical technical expertise, innovation, and local expertise to federal and state agencies to efficiently deliver surface transportation projects and urges the Secretary to reinforce these partnerships.
ADOPTED 4:10 PM
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Mullin (R), OK amend (#13):
Allows bridge work to be done despite the presence of swallows if the bridge has a condition rating of 3 or less until a rulemaking has occurred, requires notification to the Secretary of Interior, and directs the Sec. of Interior to promulgate a rulemaking to allow for bridge work under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).
REJECTED 4:14 PM
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Ribble (R), WI amend (#14):
Give states the option of increasing the truck weight limits on their interstate highways from 80,000 pounds to 91,000 pounds if the trucks are equipped with an additional sixth axle. Would not impact existing exemptions already enacted.
Capuano (D), MA asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote - 4:28 PM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Brown (D), FL amend (#15):
Creates a National Advisory Committee on Travel and Tourism Infrastructure which will advise the Transportation secretary on infrastructure needs related to the use of the nation's intermodal transportation network to facilitate travel and tourism.
Brown (D), FL asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote - 4:37 PM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DeSaulnier (D), CA amend (#16):
Directs the Transportation Department to methods of inventorying roadside highway safety hardware devices, such as guardrails, to improve in-service evaluation of these devices.
ADOPTED 4:41 PM
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Scott (D), VA amend (#17):
Includes a sense of Congress that the DoT should utilize modeling and simulation technology to analyze federally funded highway and public transit projects to ensure that these projects will increase transportation capacity and safety, alleviate congestion, reduce travel time and environmental impact, and are as cost effective as practicable
ADOPTED 4:42 PM
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Johnson, Eddie Bernice (D), TX amend (#18):
Strikes the DoT’s authority to redistribute unallocated TIFIA funds.
ADOPTED 4:47 PM
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Welch (D), VT amend (#19):
Strikes Section 3010 of division A, which would lower the current federal share of bicycle facility projects from 95 and 90 percent to 80 percent.
REJECTED 4:55 PM
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Sewell (D), AL amend (#20):
Seeks a public safety report to be provided to the House and Senate Transportation Committees on the security of locations intended to encourage public use of alternative transportation as well as personal transportation such as car pool parking lots, mass transit parking; local, state, and regional rail station parking; college or university parking, bike paths or walking trails and other locations the Secretary deems would be appropriate.
ADOPTED 4:58 PM
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Sewell (D), AL amend (#21):
Provides a report on the Internet of Things and its potential to improve transportation services to the elderly and persons with disabilities as well as assist local, state and federal transportation planners in achieving better inefficiencies and cost effectiveness, while protecting privacy and security of persons who use IoT technology.
[ric]
ADOPTED 5:01 PM
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Blumenauer (D), OR amend (#22):
Increases the number of states eligible for funding through the non-motorized National Priority Safety Program, and doubles the funding.
REJECTED 5:08 PM
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Kirkpatrick (D), AZ amend (#23):
Increases safety by allowing additional states that have passed distracted driving legislation to qualify for incentive grant funding.
ADOPTED 5:11 PM
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Rice (D), NY amend (#24):
Requires states to strengthen graduated driver’s licensing requirements to be eligible for State Graduated Driver Licensing Incentive Grants.
WITHDRAWN 5:17 PM
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Duncan (R), TN amend (#26):
Requires the DoT to conduct a study on the safety of operations of a double-decker motor coach equipped with a luggage carrier at the rear of the vehicle.
ADOPTED 5:21 PM
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Comstock (R), VA amend (#27):
Clarifies the restrictions placed on institutions applying for UTC grants, and broadens the paragraph on “Focused Research” for regional UTCs. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop a 5-Year Transportation R&D Strategic Plan for FY 18 through FY 22. Authorizes a traffic congestion study and a rail safety study to Congress.
ADOPTED 5:29 PM
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Barletta (R), PA amend (#28):
Requires all legacy tank cars retrofit for continued Class 3 Flammable Liquid service to include enhanced top fittings protections for pressure relief valves.
ADOPTED 5:36 PM
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Lynch (D), MA amend (#29):
Provides for an additional, independent safety review of an approved pipeline route or segment of route, should a state or tribal government deem it necessary.
Lynch (D), MA asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote - 5:44 PM
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Lewis, John (D), GA amend (#30):
Strikes Section 339 (b) of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 and make construction of Type II noise barriers eligible for funds from the surface transportation block grant program.
WITHDRAWN 5:49 PM
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Takano (D), CA amend (#31):
Allows for a program of eligible projects to count as a single project to meet the $100,000,000 threshold of project costs.
Takano (D), CA asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote - 5:58 PM
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Brownley (D), CA amend (#32):
Increases the freight program small project set-aside from 10% to 20%.
Brownley (D), CA asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote - 6:05 PM
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Costello (R), PA amend (#33):
Allows otherwise eligible Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects, which do not meet the minimum $100 million threshold, to qualify for the specific reserved amount as provided in the legislation for such projects that fail to reach that threshold.
ADOPTED 6:09 PM
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Radewagen (R), AS amend (#34):
Requires the Secretary to allocate program funds made available to the territories according to quantifiable measures that are indicative of the surface transportation requirements of each of the territories.
Radewagen (R), AS asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote - 6:18 PM
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Edwards (D), MD amend (#35):
Seeks to improve highway designs to better manage storm water by moving up in the planning process from the end so that thought goes into how best to plan, design, and construct project effectively while also reducing costs.
ADOPTED 6:22 PM
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Calvert (R), CA amend (#36):
Increases the limit on 10 local governments with whom the State can exercise its authority to eliminate duplicative reviews to 25.
ADOPTED 6:25 PM
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Unfinished Business
Swalwell (R), CA amend (#2) (expands the CMAQ program to include innovative shared-use mobility projects that can reduce congestion and improve air quality):
Swalwell (D), CA asked recorded vote – 6:26 PM
[586]
YEAS 181 NAYS 237
REJECTED 6:55 PM
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Gosar (R), AZ amend (#5) (requires tracking the number, cost, and time required for each environmental review of projects):
Gosar (R), AZ asked recorded vote – 6:58 PM
[587]
YEAS 196 NAYS 225
REJECTED 7:02 PM
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Ribble (R), WI amend (#14) (gives states option of increasing the truck weight limits on their interstate highways with a 6th axel):
Capuano (D), MA asked recorded vote – 7:02 PM
[588]
YEAS 187 NAYS 236
REJECTED 7:06 PM
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Brown (D), FL amend (#15) (creates a National Advisory Committee on Travel and Tourism Infrastructure):
Brown (D), FL asked recorded vote – 7:06 PM
[589]
YEAS 216 NAYS 207
ADOPTED 7:10 PM
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Lynch (D), MA amend (#29) (provides for an additional safety review of an approved pipeline route should a state or tribal government deem it necessary):
Lynch (D), MA asked recorded vote - 7:10 PM
[590]
YEAS 160 NAYS 263
REJECTED 7:13 PM
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Takano (D), CA amend (#31) (allows for a program of eligible projects to count as a single project to meet the $100,000,000 threshold of project costs):
Takano (D), CA asked recorded vote - 7:14 PM
[591]
YEAS 174 NAYS 248
REJECTED 7:17 PM
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Brownley (D), CA amend (#32) (increases the freight program small project set-aside from 10% to 20%):
Brownley (D), CA asked recorded vote - 7:17 PM
[592]
YEAS 180 NAYS 263
REJECTED 7:21 PM
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Radewagen (R), AS amend (#34) (requires the Secretary to allocate program funds made available to the territories according to quantifiable measures that are indicative of the surface transportation requirements of each of the territories):
Radewagen (R), AS asked recorded vote - 7:21 PM
[593]
YEAS 113 NAYS 310
REJECTED 7:26 PM
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Amendments (cont’d) 7:22 PM
Hartzler (R), MO amend (#37):
Repeals the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to approve as part of the construction of federal-aid highways the costs of landscape and roadside development.
Hartzler (R), MO asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote – 7:35 PM
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Farenthold (R), TX amend (#38):
Allows only certain trucks with current weight exemptions to be allowed to continue riding at those higher weight exemptions once certain segments of Texas State Highways are converted into I-69.
AGREED TO 7:39 PM
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Rooney (R), FL amend (#39):
Provides that a state may allow, by special permit, the operation of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 95,000 pounds for the hauling of livestock. The cost of a special permit may not exceed $200 per year for a livestock trailer.
Rooney (R), FL asked recorded vote
Chair postponed vote - 7:48 PM
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Rothfus (R), PA amend (#40):
Exempts projects to reconstruct any road, highway, railway, bridge, or transit facility that is damaged by an emergency declared by the Governor of the State and concurred in by the Secretary of Homeland Security from any environmental reviews, approvals, licensing, and permit restrictions if reconstruction takes place in the same location and using the same design, capacity, and dimensions as before the emergency.
Rothfus (R), PA asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote - 7:54 PM
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DeSaulnier (D), CA amend (#41):
Establishes a peer review group and a comprehensive risk management plan to prevent cost overruns and project delays for transportation megaprojects exceeding $2.5 billion.
DeSaulnier (D), CA asked recorded vote.
Chair postponed vote - 8:01 PM
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Beyer (D), VA amend (#42):
Removes a federal preemption and restores the full right to regulate towing to states and localities.
AGREED TO 8:05 PM
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Mica (R), FL amend (#43):
Requires that a state may not prohibit the operation of an automobile transporter with a gross weight of 84,000 pounds or less on any segment of the Interstate System or qualified Federal aid primary highways designated by the Secretary. Allows the chief executive officer of a State to request an exemption if it is determined that an interstate segment is not capable of safely accommodating such commercial motor vehicles.
WITHDRAWN 8:10 PM
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DelBene (D), WA amend (#44):
(Revised) Requires a report on the Frontline Workforce Development Program for each fiscal year.
AGREED TO 8:13 PM
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Napolitano (D), CA amend (#45):
Changes the degradation standard of an HOV lane from maintaining an average operating speed above 45mph over a consecutive 180-day period during peak hours from 90% of the time to 50% of the time.
AGREED TO 8:18 PM
(Committee arose)
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Chair declared the House in recess at 8:20 PM subject to the call of the Chair.