BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: SJR 33
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: lowenthal
VERSION: 5/24/10
Analysis by: Carrie Cornwell FISCAL: no
Hearing date: June 29, 2010
SUBJECT:
National freight policy
DESCRIPTION:
The resolution requests that the United States Congress adopt a
national freight policy as part of the next federal
transportation bill.
ANALYSIS:
The United States Constitution assigns the right to regulate
commerce with foreign nations and among the states to the
federal government.
The most recent federal transportation bill, which is known as
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Transportation Equity Act - A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), establishes federal
transportation policy, its funding. SAFETEA-LU authorized
research and demonstration projects to investigate various
transportation funding mechanisms. SAFETEA-LU did not, however,
articulate a national freight policy nor have any of the
preceding transportation bills.
Enacted in 2005, SAFETEA-LU was originally due to expire on
September 30th of last year. The Congress and the President
extended SAFETEA-LU several times, most recently until December
31, 2010, in order to provide time to develop a successor
transportation bill.
This resolution requests that the United States Congress adopt a
national freight policy as part of the next federal
transportation bill and direct the U.S. Department of
SJR 33 (LOWENTHAL) Page 2
Transportation to implement its provisions.
COMMENTS:
Purpose . The author introduced this resolution to support the
creation of a national freight policy. He argues that such a
policy would provide a federal basis for investment in
trade-facilitating infrastructure development, promoting public
and private participation in trade infrastructure, achieving
significant air quality benefits, and establishing a platform
for the equitable distribution of federal funds such that
California and its local transportation partners would receive
their fair share of those revenues.
Supporters note that while California's airports, border
crossings, and seaports are critical national assets that
facilitate massive amounts of international commerce, the
federal government lacks a coordinated plan to invest in these
assets. The lack of a national freight policy hurts West Coast
trade, as states here will continue to bear the costs of both
facilitating trade growth and reducing environmental impacts.
The adoption of a national freight policy, as this resolution
requests, would create a uniform federal interest in improving
the flow of cargo through California's airports, seaports, and
land ports of entry.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
June 23, 2010)
SUPPORT: California Trade Coalition
Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
Port of Oakland
OPPOSED: None received.