Rep. Laura Richardson Introduces Bill to Create Nation's First Freight Policy Oversight Office

Press Release

Congresswoman Laura Richardson (CA-37) recently introduced comprehensive legislation aimed at developing a strong, well coordinated national freight policy. The Freight is the Future of Commerce in the United States Act, or Freight FOCUS Act, will establish the Office of Freight Planning within the Department of Transportation to prioritize freight corridors and steer funding to the most critical freight infrastructure projects across the nation.

"The Freight FOCUS Act is the culmination of several efforts to improve the entire goods supply chain and to invest in and alleviate choke points throughout the country," said Congresswoman Richardson. "In the 37th District alone, the goods coming in and out of the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles generate more than $47 billion in direct and indirect business sales yearly and 1.4 million trade-generated jobs. Given the significance of freight to our economy, it is imperative that we have a singular oversight agency and a dedicated leadership to direct freight policy and create a national freight plan."

The Freight FOCUS Act includes several provisions to prioritize infrastructure projects, including the creation of a Freight Corridor of National Significance Program and a National Freight Advisory Committee. The new oversight office will identify and designate main corridors, and chokepoints along those corridors, that have special importance to the nation's freight infrastructure through an open and transparent system that includes input from both the public and private sector.

In addition, Freight FOCUS will distribute funding to projects most in need via a competitive, merit-based national grant program and the creation of the Goods Movement Trust Fund. With the support of the trucking industry, the funds are generated, in large part, by raising the diesel tax for freight trucks by 12 cents, the first increase of its kind since 1993. In addition, the bill contains safeguards to ensure that funding is invested right back into the sectors that contribute and maintains a structure flexible enough to incorporate other revenue streams in the future.

"It is so important we make clear that the very groups who would be taxed are the exact same groups who are the most adamant supporters of the Freight FOCUS Act and believe in the long-term benefits of the bill to their industry," said Congresswoman Richardson. "Make no mistake, the Freight FOCUS Act is the most comprehensive freight policy legislation of its kind and will lay the foundation for freight policy in this country going forward. It will create jobs and ensure the fiscal integrity of major infrastructure projects, improving our economy now but also providing long term stability for our transportation well into the future."

The Freight FOCUS Act is supported by a diverse coalition of freight industry organizations including the American Trucking Association, International Union of Operating Engineers, Retail Industry Leaders Association, National Association of Truck Stop Operators, International Warehouse Logistics Association, and Gateway Cities Council of Governments.

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