December 17, 2020
Railroad, Transit Groups Request Vaccine Priority Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Freight rail and transit organizations are requesting that Congress and state governors, respectively, consider their members’ employees as the COVID-19 vaccine is distributed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has proposed that essential workers, including transportation workers, be included in the second priority group (Phase 1b) of the vaccine rollout, after health care workers and others who are considered highest priority (Phase 1a).
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) joined the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and nine other groups in submitting a letter Dec. 9 to senators on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Transportation and Safety Subcommittee requesting “timely access” to the
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American maritime and supply chain trade associations and organizations last week sent letters to Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin and Congressional leaders asking for help in coping with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One letter, signed by a notably broad industry coalition asks for $3.5 billion in aid to the industry. A separate letter, sent to Senate committee leaders by a smaller group, asks that industry workers be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccinations.
$3.5 BILLION AID PLEA
Virtually identical letters sent to Mnuchin and House and Senate majority and minority leaders on December 9 by no fewer than 23 organizations notes that the COVID-19 crisis has seen total waterborne trade volume down 6.3% compared to last year, while the value of this trade has crashed by 13.9% totaling $200 billion. “Passenger movements remain virtually ceased,” says the letter, adding that “expenses have greatly increased due to COVID-19 protocols and precautions that w
December 11, 2020 By Jim Myers
Washington, D.C. Trying to keep its track record intact, the House passed by voice vote the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, sending it on to the Senate for final congressional action.
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called the bill a “bipartisan, bicameral agreement,” and highlighted authorization in S. 1811 for all 46 reports a record number of the chief engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 27 new feasibility studies and expedited completion of more than 60 ongoing studies.
DeFazio also pointed to provisions to ensure full utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund by unlocking funds that have sat idle for decades.