Wicker Says Congress Closer to Enacting Long-Term Highway Proposal

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, voted on Wednesday in favor of a measure to reauthorize the office of the Secretary of Transportation, enhance transportation safety programs, streamline grant programs, and improve oversight efforts. The proposal also contains Wicker’s passenger rail legislation, which was introduced last month with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.

“This bill is an essential component in equipping our nation with a long-term transportation and infrastructure plan,” Wicker said. “Under Republican leadership, Congress is inching closer to enacting meaningful and comprehensive transportation legislation. I am particularly pleased that the bill includes my proposal to make key rail safety improvements, enhance rail infrastructure, encourage competition, and make smart use of taxpayer dollars.”

The “Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act,” S. 1732, was approved by the committee by a vote of 13-11. By tradition, the legislation will be combined with S. 1647, the “DRIVE Act,” and legislation from other Senate committees to form a legislative package commonly referred to as “The Highway Bill” or the “Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.”

Wicker successfully added a provision to revise the National Automotive Sampling System to include the collection of data during car crashes when a child restraint system was in use during the crash. It would allow the American Academy of Pediatrics and local law enforcement to collect this data to help determine if any injuries or fatalities occur when the children are in a 5-point harness recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Wicker was also instrumental in including a provision authored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to establish minimum tire performance standards and improve consumer notification of tire recalls.