Committee Hearings – Week of 6-1-14

The House is working back in their districts this week but the Senate is in session. Transportation will be the focus of three hearings; one authorization and two spending hearings. The other hearing of potential interest to readers of this blog will be an oversight hearing on port security.

THUD Spending

There will be two hearings this week on the Senate’s version of the FY 2015 transportation spending bill. The Homeland Security subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will meet Tuesday to mark-up the draft version of the bill which is not yet publically available. The Full Committee will meet Thursday for the final mark-up. I fully expect the bill to contain language addressing the safety of crude oil unit trains in general and the regulation of DOT 111 rail cars specifically.

Surface Transportation Authorization

The Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss “Surface Transportation Reauthorization: Examining the Safety and Effectiveness of our Transportation Systems”. Again, I expect that the topic of the safety of the safety of crude oil unit trains and DOT 111 car regulations will come up.

Port Security

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will be meeting on Wednesday to look at “Evaluating Port Security: Progress Made and Challenges Ahead”. The witness list currently includes:

• Ellen McClain, Office of Policy, DHS;

• Rear Admiral  Paul F. Thomas, USCG;

• Kevin K. McAleenan, Customs and Border Protrection, DHS;

• Brian E. Kamoie, FEMA, DHS;

• Stephen Sadler, TSA, DHS; and

• Stephen L. Caldwell, GAO.