Category Archives: Legislative Outlook

House Committee Approves Passenger Rail Reform Legislation

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today approved bipartisan legislation that improves the infrastructure, reduces costs, leverages private sector resources, creates greater accountability and transparency, and accelerates project delivery for Amtrak and the Nation’s passenger rail transportation system. The Committee approved by voice vote the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014, or PRRIA (H.R.

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Passage of Carper-Corker-Boxer Amendment Forces Debate on Long-Term Transportation Bill

Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), of which TCU is a member, issued a statement in reaction to the Senate’s passage of the Wyden-Hatch and Carper-Corker-Boxer Amendments to HR 5021. Click here to read the full statement from the TTD. Click here to read the TTD statement urging the house to pass

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TCU Supports H.R. 4813

3rd District Congressman Nick Rahall and 1st District Congressman David McKinley of West Virginia have introduced a bill to stop a new rule, proposed by the EPA, that would set caps on carbon emissions from existing coal fired power plants. Rahall and McKinley’s bill (H.R. 4813), which already has 73 cosponsors, would terminate the new

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TTD – Senate THUD Appropriations Bill is a Solid Step Forward

Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) of which TCU is a member, recently commented on the pending markup of the THUD Appropriations bill before the Senate Appropriations Committee:  “The Senate transportation funding bill is a solid step forward in meeting our immediate transportation needs and ensuring that we don’t weaken the

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TTD Sends Letter to Congress – Extend Federal Transit Benefits

In a letter to the ranking members of the Congressional Committee that oversees tax issues, the Transportation Trades Department (TTD), of which TCU is a member, urged the committee to support efforts to restore the public transportation tax benefit which was unfairly and dramatically decreased by almost 50 percent at the beginning of this year. Collectively, the

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AAR Supports H.R. 3498 – Repealing the Crippling 2014 Tax on National Railroad Healthcare Plans

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently offered its support for H.R. 3489, legislation introduced to repeal the funding mechanism for the Transitional Reinsurance Program authorized by the Affordable Care Act. The fees levied to support the Program provide an unnecessary financial burden to the rail sector with no corresponding benefit. The Transitional Reinsurance Program

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