Review - S 3067 Introduced – Emerging Technologies in Transportation

Last month, Sen Cortez Masto introduced S 3067, the New, Emerging, and Exciting Technologies (NEXT) in Transportation Act. The bill makes minor changes to the Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Advisory Committee and requires DOT to establish a Smart Community Resource Center as well as a SMART grant program. The bill also establishes a National Electric Vehicle Program. Each of the program descriptions include minor cybersecurity provisions. Funding is authorized by this bill and appropriations are provided.

Cortez Masto is not a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This typically means that there will not be enough influence available to see the bill considered in Committee. This bill would likely see some serious opposition if it were to be considered in Committee because of the amount of spending involved. Additionally, there would be some constitutional issues with the section 7 appropriations; appropriations bills are supposed to originate in the House.

For more details about the programs and spending described in this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/s-3067-introduced - subscription required.