Two significant bills relevant to the trucking industry made progress in committees last week.
One bill, targeting the U.S. Department of Labor’s worker classification rule, successfully passed through the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Known as the Prove It Act, the legislation passed through the House Judiciary Committee.
The Worker Classification Resolution addresses the Department of Labor’s recent final rule, which aims to prevent the misclassification of workers as independent contractors. This action, effective since March 11, replaces a previous rule under the previous presidential administration with a new “totality of circumstances” test. Representative Kevin Kiley of California introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution to rescind this current rule and revert to the old standard.
Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana also introduced a similar resolution in the Senate. Both lawmakers argue that the current administration’s rule undermines the flexibility of 27 million workers and puts undue pressure on them to join unions. The House bill has garnered 65 co-sponsors, while the Senate version has 33.
The other bill, the Prove It Act, introduced by Representative Brad Finstad of Minnesota, aims to shield small businesses from excessive regulatory burdens. The bill, designated HR71988, mandates federal agencies to assess how regulations would impact small businesses.
“Small businesses in southern Minnesota are being crushed by burdensome federal government regulations,” Finstad said. “The Prove It Act would give small businesses a seat at the table during the regulatory process by requiring government agencies to assess and limit the direct and indirect costs of their rules and regulations.”
This bipartisan initiative, backed by Representatives Yadira Caraveo of Colorado, Nathaniel Moran of Texas, and Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, holds particular significance for the trucking industry, given that many trucks are operated by small motor carriers. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, representing small-business truckers, lends its support to the Prove It Act.
“Not only are small businesses the backbone of America’s economy; they’re the backbone of America’s supply chain,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA president. “Over 70% of American freight is transported exclusively by truck, and 96% of trucking is made up of small-business carriers. OOIDA and the 150,000 small-business truckers we represent support the bipartisan Prove It Act to keep government overreach and burdensome overregulation off of the backs of the men and women behind the wheel who keep our economy moving.”
Both bills signify efforts to address regulatory challenges faced by the trucking industry, emphasizing the importance of balancing worker rights and business interests.
Source: Land Line
