March 21, 2024- The bipartisan committee approval of H.R. 6140 has been announced, the bill would Facilitate Access to Swiftly Transport Goods during a Publicly Announced State of Emergency Situation (FAST PASS) Act. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee approved H.R. 6140 by a voice vote.
The bipartisan bill, introduced by Representatives Mike Ezell (R-MS) and John Garamendi (D-CA), directs the Secretary of Transportation to initiate a study to examine efforts to expedite the movement of critical cargo across all modes of transportation during emergencies.
Key provisions of H.R. 6140 include:
·Evaluate practices for expediting cargo during a Federal Emergency
·Examine processes to mitigate impact on the movement of other cargo that is not deemed critical during an emergency
·Include recommendations for using data from commercial and government data tracking systems to determine which cargo is critical and when it needs to be expedited
· Seek public comment so DOT can issue a report to Congress two years after enactment