Monday, December 4

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Transportation Leaders Meeting Reception

Tuesday, December 5

7:30 am - 7:00 pm

Transportation Leaders Meeting Continues

See separate agenda

Wednesday, December 6

7:00 am - 6:0 pm

Registration

Continental Breakfast

8:00 am - 11:30 am 

Transportation Leaders Meeting Continues

See separate agenda

11:30 am - 1:15 pm

Transportation Leaders Meeting Luncheon

Roundtable discussion with administrators of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration. 

NCSL Transportation Standing Committee Convenes

Welcome, Opening Remarks, and Introductions

Senator Bruce Starr, Oregon, Committee Chair
John Snyder, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky, Staff Chair

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm 

Critical Issues in Transportation:  A Perspective from the Transportation Research Board (TRB)

The committee kicks-off Fall Forum with an address identifying the key issues in transportation by the executive director of the nation's preeminent resource for scientific and academic research about transportation, followed by a committee roundtable discussion.  Through a recent collaboration, TRB is providing NCSL with a link to a snapshot transportation topics web page specifically designed for state legislators and state legislative staff. 

Presiding: Senator Bruce Starr, Oregon, Committee Chair

Speaker:  Robert Skinner, Executive Director, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C. 

2:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Aviation - State and Federal Policy Update

Presiding: Senator Lorraine Inouye, Hawaii, Committee Vice Chair

Speakers:  David Fulton, Director, Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division, Texas
Greg Pecoraro, Vice President of Regional Affairs, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. (invited)

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm 

Opening General Session

Presiding:  Senator Richard Moore, Massachusetts, Chair, NCSL

Managing in Crisis

Speaker: Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard

Recently named one of the country’s best leaders by U.S. News and World Report and Harvard University, Admiral Allen will discuss the role of the Coast Guard in homeland security and emergency preparedness.

5:15 pm – 6:00 pm

Steering Committee Meeting
(committee chairs and staff chairs) 

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm 

Thursday, December 7

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Registration

7:30 am - 9:00 am

Plenary Breakfast

The 2006 Elections:  A Look Back and a Look Ahead

Speaker: William Schneider, CNN Political Analyst

Always exceedingly popular at NCSL meetings for his wit and political insights, Mr. Schneider will parse the results of the mid-term elections and speculate about their meaning for the political landscape of the next two years.

9:15 am - 5:00 pm

Transportation Standing Committee Convenes 

9:15 am - 12:15 pm 

Tour of Port San Antonio and Lunch
(Space on the tour is limited.  Preference will be given to those who register in advance with Jim Reed at 303-856-1510, jim.reed@ncsl.org.)

Joint with Labor and Economic Development Committee and Budgets and Revenue Committee

The committees will be the guests of Port San Antonio for a briefing, lunch and a tour of its facility at the former Kelly Air Force Base.  Port San Antonio is a multi-use airport and rail-served business park adjacent to several Interstate highways.  The committee will also be briefed on operations at the brand new Toyota facility in San Antonio.

Plenary Lunch

Presiding: Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Texas, NCSL President

Climate Change:  States Take the Lead

Speaker:  Speaker Fabian Nunez, California Assembly

Several states have seized the initiative in addressing issues related to climate change.  Legislation passed recently in California has commanded national headlines.  The Speaker of the California Assembly, Fabian Nunez, was a leader in the passage of the legislation.  He will describe the new approach and the delicate process that led to adoption of the measure.

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Motor Carrier Update and Consideration of Motor Carrier Regulation Policy  

The Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and a state regulator will update the committee on federal and state motor carrier initiatives.  Following will be a discussion of NCSL's current Motor Carrier Regulation Policy.

Presiding: Senator Tom Wyss, Indiana (invited)

Speakers:  Honorable John Hill, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, District of Columbia
Debra A. Hillmer, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Revenue Regulation, South Dakota (invited)
Bill Graves, President, American Trucking Associations, Virginia (invited)

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm 

State Policy Implications of the Federal Safe Routes to School Program

In 2005, Congress approved Safe Routes to School legislation that allocates $600 million to states through 2009 for infrastructure improvements and community programs that can improve safety and increase numbers of children walking and bicycling to schools.  This session will examine how states are using the federal funds, as well as other state policy options that can improve the safety and health of school children.

Presiding: John Snyder, Kentucky, Staff Chair (invited)

Speakers:  Tim Arnade, Federal Highway Commission, U.S. Department of Transportation, District of Columbia
Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, Washington
Robin Stallings, Texas Bicycle Coalition, Texas

5:45 pm – 6:30 pm 

Steering Committee Meeting
(committee chairs and staff chairs) 

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Reception--Institute of Texas Cultures 

Friday, December 8

6:30 am - 8:30 am

NCSL Bipartisan Bike Ride

9:00 am – 10:00 am

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Special Briefing on REAL ID

Special Briefing TBD

11:00 am – 12:00 pm 

Fall Forum Business Meeting

Debate and Voting on Official Policy Statements and Resolutions

12:15 am – 1:30 pm 

Closing Luncheon

Immigration Policy:  The Debate Continues

Although Congress has been unable to craft a comprehensive package of immigration legislation, state legislatures continue to tackle this most ticklish of public policy dilemmas through an array of approaches.  Mr. Papademetriou, one of the country’s most respected immigration experts, will offer his insights into the future of the immigration policy debate. 

Meeting Adjourns