FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment being offered by Congressman Denham and me to H.R. 4, and I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Together, we have worked long and hard to reduce the duplicative environmental permitting requirements that contribute, as we all know, to delays in delivery of important transportation projects throughout the Nation and throughout California, as both Congressman Denham and I have experienced.

California remains at the forefront of finding innovative ways to streamline the transportation delivery project without compromising the natural environment and complying with environmental laws. As a matter of fact, we have a very big initiative that was passed last year to provide another $52 billion in construction projects over the next 10 years. So this is an important amendment.

In 2015, Congress passed the FAST Act, which implemented a pilot program to provide reciprocity for environmental permitting for States like California that have laws that provide equal or greater environmental protection. That is the case with California. That is why this amendment is so applicable and why it makes such good common sense.

This amendment would further streamline the delegation process, as the gentleman noted, reduce project delivery times and costs, lead to more projects being constructed at a faster rate, and improve our deteriorating infrastructure.

For all these good reasons, we ought to adopt this amendment. I urge my colleagues to concur.

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding.

I rise today in support of this amendment offered by Mr. Denham, Mr. Cuellar, and myself. Trucking companies and truck drivers are the backbone of our Nation in terms of transportation, and certainly, much of the San Joaquin Valley that I represent.

Agricultural products, fruits, nuts, and vegetables that are put on American's dinner tables every night are grown in the San Joaquin Valley, and they provide an important part of our sustenance.

Many of these truckers have one or two trucks, and they are literally small-business people. Sadly, because of the recent court decisions that were noted by the author of this amendment, these companies that operate across State lines have been exposed to unfair litigation that have been costly, and I know of cases where major motor carriers have gone out of business because of this.

The amendment would clarify that when operating across State lines, meals and rest break requirements will be governed by Federal law, not a patchwork of conflicting State laws. That just makes good common sense. This is consistent with action taken by the Congress--as was noted--in 1994, to provide uniform rules across the country for safety purposes.

Some of my colleagues have claimed time in opposition saying this amendment would overturn protections like minimum wage and vacation. This amendment in no way impacts minimum wage or vacation, or those issues that have been raised in this fashion. It is simply not true.

This amendment, I believe, is prosafety, proworker, and proeconomy. The fact is, we have been dealing with this issue for a number of years, and it is time that we finally avoid the confusion and strengthen this measure out.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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