After a 19-hour markup that ended early this morning, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee voted favorably to report the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3684) out of committee by a margin of 38-26. The INVEST in America Act is a five-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal to replace the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST Act), which expires Sep. 30, 2021.
Soy and agricultural-related provisions in the INVEST in America Act include:
The bill will now be sent to the House floor, where it is expected to be voted on before the July 4 recess. It will likely not be considered in the Senate. Before the vote, the House Ways & Means Committee will need to deliberate the funding portion of the bill.
ASA Policy Corner
Prior to the markup, ASA sent a letter to the House T&I Committee to share the key infrastructure priorities for America’s soybean farmers related to surface transportation.
Along with other members of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group (ATWG), ASA explicitly opposed the provision that increases the minimum amount of insurance required for commercial motor vehicles from $750,000 to $2 million, which was included in the INVEST in America Act. The group also opposed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) review and revision of the current hours of service (HOS) rules, including agricultural exemptions. In a letter to the T&I Committee, ATWG stated that the following provisions would add unnecessary costs to the U.S. agricultural supply chain and reduce U.S. agriculture’s international competitiveness.
Industry updates and weekly newsletter direct to your inbox!