Transportation

HR 2035, the American Cargo for American Ships Act, requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure that when procuring, contracting for, or financing cargo transportation with federal funds, 100% of the gross tonnage for dry bulk carriers, dry cargo liners, and tankers must be transported on U.S.-owned commercial vessels - provided those vessels are available at fair and reasonable rates. This directly affects government procurement of cargo transportation using federal funds, mandating U.S. vessel use where commercially available. The key mechanism is a new requirement for the Secretary of Transportation or recipients of federal financing to take "necessary and practicable steps" to meet this 100% U.S. vessel standard for eligible cargo. The bill does not apply to all government shipping but specifically targets federally financed or procured cargo transportation.

This Senate resolution (SRES 222) symbolically designates May 2025 as "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month" to promote safety awareness among all road users. It encourages rider education, proper gear use, and shared roadway responsibility, recognizing motorcycles' role in transportation and the need to reduce motorcyclist fatalities. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally supports existing safety efforts by the motorcycling community and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It directly affects public awareness and serves as a symbolic gesture to encourage safer road practices.

The Next-Gen Collision Avoidance Act requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop and publish an action plan within 180 days for advancing the deployment of a next-generation collision avoidance system (ACAS-X) across the national airspace. The plan must include a roadmap for adoption by aircraft operators, steps for research and development, engagement with stakeholders like manufacturers and pilot groups, and coordination with international authorities to harmonize safety standards. It also mandates an assessment of safety benefits for operators adopting the technology and requires the FAA to brief Congress within 30 days of submitting the plan. This bill directly affects the FAA's planning process and the aviation industry's efforts to implement this new safety technology.

This bill requires all commercial driver's license (CDL) tests - including knowledge tests, entry-level training exams, and third-party provider assessments - to be administered exclusively in English. It also mandates that new CDL applicants must hold a regular driver's license for at least one year prior to receiving a CDL, affecting most first-time commercial drivers. The Secretary of Transportation can revoke a state's authority to issue non-domiciled CDLs or commercial learner's permits (CLPs) if the state fails to comply with these requirements. These provisions directly impact new CDL applicants, particularly non-English speakers and those without prior driving experience.

S 2945, the Safe Transit Accountability Act, amends federal transit safety law to clarify decision-making authority for safety recommendations. It requires transit agencies to designate a single "accountable executive" who has ultimate responsibility for safety plans and asset management. This accountable executive must decide whether to implement safety committee recommendations and serves as the final decision-maker in any committee disputes. The bill directly affects large public transit agencies operating under federal safety planning requirements.

S 2758 creates a 10% federal tax credit for businesses that modernize or replace qualified freight railcars, directly affecting railroad operators and freight railcar owners. The credit covers expenses for new railcars meeting specific performance standards (8% capacity increase or AAR/HM-251 safety standards) or modernizing existing cars, with a limit of 1,000 qualifying railcars per taxpayer annually. To qualify, railcars must replace two scrapped cars from the previous 48 months and be built in approved facilities. The credit applies only to railcars placed in service after December 2024, expiring three years after enactment, and requires annual reporting on credit usage and railcar replacement impacts.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to DOT for the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the Maritime Administration, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Office of Inspector General. The bill provides appropriations to HUD for Management and Administration, Public and Indian Housing, Community Planning and Development, Housing Programs, the Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), Policy Development and Research, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, and the Office of Inspector General. The bill also provides appropriations to several related agencies, including the Access Board, the Federal Maritime Commission, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Office of Inspector General, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation,  the Surface Transportation Board, and The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.  Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

This bill expands tax-free benefits for employees who commute by bicycle. It reinstates and broadens employer-provided tax-free reimbursements for expenses related to bicycles, electric bikes, and qualifying scooters used for commuting. Specifically, employers can now cover costs like purchasing, leasing, repairing, or storing qualified commuting property (including e-bikes meeting safety standards), with a 30% monthly limit on the tax-free amount. The policy directly affects employees who bike to work and their employers, making it easier for businesses to offer these benefits without tax implications. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Safety Funding Parity Adjustment Act of 2025 requires the Transportation Secretary to adjust federal highway safety funding between two specific programs before distributing funds each fiscal year. If the increase in funding for Program A (section 402) is not at least four times the increase for Program B (section 405), funds must be transferred from Program B to Program A to achieve that 4:1 ratio. This mechanism ensures Program A receives a disproportionately larger funding boost relative to Program B when their increases don't meet the 4:1 threshold. The bill directly affects how federal highway safety funds are allocated to states and local governments through these two programs. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

This bill amends an existing provision in the MAP-21 law to set a specific deadline for airports to transition to quieter aircraft technology. It directly affects airports and aircraft operators required to meet federal noise standards. The key change replaces a flexible "15 years after enactment" deadline with a fixed date of December 31, 2032, for compliance. This is a procedural amendment to an existing regulatory requirement, not a new policy.