The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Jan. 8 approved legislation that would greenlight the Keystone XL oil pipeline, setting up a contentious debate on the floor of the Senate next week on a measure backed by Republican leaders and opposed by the White House.
January 8, 2015GovernmentBusiness
Obamacare Employer Mandate Eased in Bill Passed by House
The House of Representatives brushed aside President Barack Obama’s veto threat and passed a bill that would revise his 2010 health-care law to ease the requirement that employers provide insurance to their workers.
January 9, 2015Government
Sen. John Thune Officially Named Chairman of Commerce Committee
As expected, the U.S. Senate on Jan. 8 ratified Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) as the next chairman of the Commerce, Science and Technology Committee during the 114th Congress.
January 8, 2015GovernmentBusiness
Sen. Boxer Not Seeking Re-election in 2016
Sen. Barbara Boxer, who as the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, has been integral in advancing the most recent highway bills in Congress, announced she will not seek another term in office in 2016.
January 8, 2015GovernmentFuel
Boehner: ‘Doubtful’ House Has Votes to Raise Gas Tax
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told reporters Jan. 8 he does not think there is sufficient support in his chamber to approve an increase to the federal fuel tax.
January 8, 2015GovernmentBusiness
Nafta Trade Rises 4.9% to Record
U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico rose 4.9% in October from a year earlier to a record $108.2 billion, the Department of Transportation reported Jan. 8.
January 8, 2015GovernmentBusiness
Truckers Divided on Impact of Rolled-Back HOS Regulations, Survey Shows
Less than half of truckers polled in December say the hours-of-service suspension will affect business positively, Bloomberg News reported.
January 8, 2015GovernmentBusinessSafetyFuel
Senators Discuss Plausibility of Higher Fuel Taxes
Senators are talking about fuel tax increases to pay for transportation — if not actually embracing the idea.
January 8, 2015GovernmentBusinessAutonomous
DeFazio Predicts Congress Will Again Address Mexican Truck Issue
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said he expects Congress to weigh in on whether more Mexican trucks ought to be running longhaul in the United States now that a three-year pilot program has ended.
January 8, 2015GovernmentBusinessSafety
DOT Awards $500,000 to Assist Washington State in Fixing Rain-Damaged Roads
The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing Washington state with $500,000 to help authorities fix roads damaged by recent heavy rainfall.
January 8, 2015