U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes-Norton

House lawmakers introduce bill to combat freight fraud

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan bill to crack down on scam freight brokers and trucking companies is receiving rare, near-unanimous support from all sectors of the industry.

The Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act, introduced by Democratic Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington’s nonvoting delegate in the House, and Rep. Mike Ezell, R-Miss., targets fraudulent actors in the household goods sector.

However, new, stricter registration requirements and enforcement provisions in the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/house-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-combat-freight-fraud

Container ship lacked backup system to avoid Baltimore bridge strike

WASHINGTON — Cargo vessels are not equipped with backup power sufficient to avoid situations such as the one in March when the container ship Dali struck and collapsed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, the country’s top transportation safety investigator told lawmakers.

Testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennfier Homendy said the backup generator that kicked in after the Dali lost power roughly half...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/container-ship-lacked-backup-system-to-avoid-baltimore-bridge-strike

Truck driver jobs at center of House hearing on automation

WASHINGTON — Losing jobs to technology is a big concern across many industries, and the issue was in the spotlight on Capitol Hill on Wednesday at a hearing on the future of autonomous trucking.

Speaking on behalf of the industry’s largest companies, the American Trucking Associations’ Chris Spear attempted to quell those fears by asserting that automation is needed to bring more drivers into the industry — not push them out.

“If we didn’t have a shortage [of drivers], we would be having a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-driver-jobs-at-center-of-house-hearing-on-automation

Washington may reinstall Capitol fence ahead of trucker convoy

U.S. Capitol Police are considering reinstalling temporary fencing around the Capitol in case an anticipated trucker convoy threatens to disrupt President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s delegate to Congress, requested a briefing on the issue Wednesday from U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Thomas Manger.

“Chief Manger is ensuring that USCP is coordinating with law enforcement partners, including the Secret Service and D.C....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/washington-may-reinstall-capitol-fence-ahead-of-trucker-convoy

Holmes-Norton eyes House T&I committee top spot

The chair of the highway subcommittee of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee wants to lead the full committee now that House T&I Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., has announced he will not seek reelection in 2022.

Holmes-Norton

Eleanor Holmes-Norton, who was elected to Congress in 1991 as the delegate to the District of Columbia, said she will run for chair or ranking member (if Republicans gain control of the House) of the T&I committee for the 118th Congress. Norton is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/holmes-norton-eyes-house-ti-committee-top-spot