ATU Action Weekly Update - 12/18/07

House Passes Bill to Require ADA Compliant Buses

Last week, the U.S. House, by a vote of 374-0, passed an ATU-supported bill that would make it clear to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that it must require bus companies to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Specifically, the bill instructs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to require compliance with the ADA regulations when granting and renewing operating authority to intercity bus companies.

H.R. 3985, sponsored by Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Jim Oberstar (D-MN), John Mica (R-FL), and John Duncan (R-TN), was introduced in response to FMCSA's repeated unwillingness to consider ADA compliance in its licensing decisions. 

The ATU, along with others in transportation labor, have long argued that passengers with disabilities are at risk when bus companies refuse to honor their obligations under the ADA.  In addition, unfair competition by low-fare bus companies, referred to as "curbside" buses, is threatening the jobs and benefits of employees at more established and law-abiding bus companies, such as Greyhound and Peter Pan. 

Curbside operators are a rapidly expanding sector of the industry.  Because they pick up and drop off passengers from downtown curbsides - and not from a centralized bus terminal - they are more elusive to inspect and remain virtually unregulated.

The ATU will continue to work with the U.S. Senate to pass this important legislation.

 

Senate Climate Legislation Includes Transit Investment

The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works voted on Dec. 5th to approve S. 2191, the Climate Security Act of 2007.  The bi-partisan bill, which takes steps to combat global warming, was introduced by Senators Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and John Warner (R-VA).

In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of a "cap-and-trade" system, the bill would allocate a part of the revenues generated from the auction of emission allowances to transit.

A proposal introduced by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) would dedicate 1 percent of revenues generated from the legislation to support growth in public transportation.  EPW Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) inserted the Cardin proposal into the legislation as part of her manager's amendment.

During the markup, Senator Boxer recognized the crucial role that transit plays in reducing emissions.

 

ATU Wishes You the Happiest of Holidays and a Prosperous New Year

There will be no ATU Action Weekly Update for the remainder of the year.  ATU Action Weekly Update will return on January 7th.

The officers and staff of the ATU International wish you the happiest of holidays and a prosperous New Year.  Cheers!