Surface Transportation Bill Clears Committee, Includes Woodall Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 22, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee passed H.R. 3763, the “Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015,” clearing the last major hurdle prior to moving the bill to the House Floor. Included in the bill is language from Rep. Woodall’s H.R. 3739, the “VETOPPS Act.” Previously introduced as a standalone bill, the bipartisan measure is now set to advance as part of the long-anticipated surface transportation legislation. Woodall spearheaded the initiative to eliminate unnecessary regulatory barriers hindering U.S. military veterans from entering the trucking industry.
“The need for safe roads and sound infrastructure isn’t a partisan issue, and today’s progress is a result of a lot of hard work by the members of this Committee,” said Rep. Woodall. “Providing long-term certainty and solutions for the American people is priority number one, and we took a very significant step in the right direction today. I’m eager to see this legislation come to the House Floor for a vote, and ultimately make its way to the President’s desk for signature.”
Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster also commended Woodall for his work on the “VETOPPS Act,” which the Committee adopted into the overall legislation.
“Rep. Woodall is an energetic and dedicated member of this body, and I’m grateful for all he’s done to help bring us to this point,” Shuster said. “In particular, his efforts to bring about a commonsense solution to a problem facing our veterans is very much appreciated, and I’m pleased to see it as a part of the ‘Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act.’”
“I’ve always said the best ideas don’t come from Washington – but from the folks back home – and the ‘VETOPPS Act’ is such a great example of that,” Woodall continued. “I wouldn’t have known about this problem had it not been for the willingness of a constituent to pick up the phone, call me, and tell me about it. That partnership is how we as Americans can solve not only this particular issue for veterans and those in the trucking industry, but the much larger issues we face as well. I’m grateful to the Chairman, Ranking Member, and my colleagues on the Committee for their bipartisan support.”
Congressman Woodall represents the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, which includes the majority of Forsyth and Gwinnett counties, and currently serves as Chairman of the Rules Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process, as well as serving on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and Budget Committee.
