Vice President Joe Biden announced a new plan that will help the nation reach President Obama’s goal of giving 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years. The proposal will place high-speed rail on equal footing with other surface transportation programs by providing $53 billion in funding over six years to continue
The TCU Legislative Watch contains the end of session status of those bills in Congress we have an interest in and/or worked on throughout 2010. The House, on Wednesday December 220d, passed a motion to adjourn the 111th Congress “Sine Die,” bringing to a close Democrats’ four-year majority in the lower chamber. The blitz of
Here we go again. Republican Congressional conservatives have declared war on Amtrak and commuter railroads. The proposed legislation would eliminate funding for Amtrak subsidies, a move that would reduce funding by $1.6 billion. It also would eliminate intercity and high-speed rail grants, $2.5 billion annually, and it would strike the subsidy for the Washington Metropolitan
TCU sent a letter to be included in the upcoming TTD retirement tribute to former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-MN. TCU and the labor community lost one of its policy making giants in the midterm elections when House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., was defeated by his Republican challenger
The model legislation is intended to help states address obstructions limiting a driver’s view of an oncoming train. Between 2001 and 2005 reports show that 689 collisions resulting in 242 injuries and 87 fatalities occurred at highway-rail grade crossings with sight obstructions. Click here to view the release from the FRA. Click here to read
President Obama signed new tax law December 17. We are highlighting two aspects of the law. 1 – Under current law employees pay a 6.2 percent Social Security tax on all wages earned up to $106,800. The new law provides a payroll tax holiday during 2011 of two percentage points. This means employees will pay
On July 5, 2010, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) and the Ferrocarril Mexican Railway Company (FXE) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a test waiver of compliance to relieve BNSF from performing federally required tests and inspections on designated trains coming into the U.S. from Mexico at Eagle Pass, TX. TCU
The Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of AFL/CIO is asking congress complete a transportation funding bill before the end of the year and fight for good jobs by supporting transit operating assistance. Click here and write to Congress and help transit employees keep their jobs, and keep public transportation across the country moving by supporting operating
The Senate rejected the resolution of disapproval introduced on the floor by Senator Isakson (R – GA) and firmly stated to the country that democracy will win elections not inequality. The recent NMB rule change, allowing for every vote cast being the only votes counted, will make union representation voting fair and democratic. “We’re pleased
In a recent release the AFL-CIO endorsed candidates for Senate, Congress and Governor in each state. Please check for the races in your local area to find out who the candidate is that has the stamp of approval. Click here to view the candidate endorsement list from the AFL-CIO. As always…choose wisely but please “Choose
