Thursday, April 19

7:30 am - 5:30 pm

Registration

Task Force on Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

(Transportation Committee is encouraged to participate)

Breakfast 

Briefing on REAL ID Regulations

The Department of Homeland Security has finally issued draft regulations for the implementation of the REAL ID act.  This briefing will provide an opportunity for the department to explain the regulations and for state legislators and legislative staff to pose questions about implementation.

Speaker: Darrell Williams, Director, REAL ID Program Office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Working Lunch

Members will discuss NCSL's response to the draft REAL ID regulations.

1:00 pm - 3:45 pm

NCSL Transportation Standing Committee Hill Visits

Joint with Budgets & Revenue Committee

Meetings on Capitol Hill regarding REAL ID and other topics will be arranged for committee members together with members of the NCSL Budgets and Revenue Committee.  Committee members interested in participating should contact Jeremy Meadows at 202-624-8664 or jeremy.meadows@ncsl.org to RSVP and to obtain further information.

Opening General Session 

The New Political Terrain: The Administration's Perspective

The Bush administration's most pressing domestic priorities have significant implications for state officials, including reauthorization of the Farm Bill. 

Speaker:  Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 

Steering Committee Meeting (committee chairs)

Opening Reception at Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill

Friday, April 20

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Registration

General Session Breakfast

The New Political Terrain:  The Congressional Perspective

The Democrats have begun the year with a firm policy agenda. This session will feature a key leader from the new congressional majority who will outline party plans for the year.

Transportation Standing Committee Convenes

Introductions and overview of Transportation Committee work program. 

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

Hazardous Materials Transportation

Regulatory and legislative developments in hazardous materials transportation at the federal and state levels will be presented to the committee.  This session will serve as an educational briefing for discussion of the NCSL policy on Hazardous Materials during the Committee Business Meeting.

Presiding: Senator Bruce Starr, Oregon, Committee Chair

Speakers:
James Rhode, Nevada Highway Patrol, Chair of the Alliance for Uniform Hazmat Transportation Procedures, Nevada
Todd Tatelman, Legislative Attorney, Congressional Research Service, Washington, D.C.
James Simmons, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Committee Business Meeting and Roundtable

Presiding:  Senator Bruce Starr, Oregon, Committee Chair

Working Lunch

Passenger Rail Transportation and Amtrak

Over lunch, the committee will hear about passenger rail developments across the nation, including the latest on Amtrak reauthorization and funding.

Presiding:  Senator Bruce Starr, Oregon, Committee Chair

Speakers: 
David Ewing, Consultant, States for Passenger Rail Coalition, Virginia
Paul Nissenbaum, Assistant Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Business Developments, Amtrak, Washington, D.C.
Stephen Gardner, Professional Staff Member, United States Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine, Washington, D.C. (Invited)

Managing the Impact of Emergencies on the Transportation System

Governments at all levels are continually working to improve response and recovery from emergencies.  Dealing with transportation in the aftermath of  a damaging event is particularly challenging.  This session will feature federal and state speakers to discuss lessons learned from recent disasters and share best practices.

Presiding:  John Snyder, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky

Speakers: 
Kimberly C. Vásconez, Emergency Transportation Operations Team Leader, Office of Operations, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. 
Tony Kane, Director of Engineering and Technical Services, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, D.C.

Speakers: 
Steve Blackistone, National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, D.C.
Justin McNaull, AAA, Washington, D.C.
Jim Wright, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Steering Committee Meeting (committee chairs) 

Reception (offsite) 

Senate Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building

The Senate Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building, an excellent example of the Beaux Arts style of architectural design, is one of the most historic rooms in the U.S. Capitol complex. Many of the most famous Senate hearings were held there, including those on the Vietnam War, the Teapot Dome Oil Reserves scandal, Watergate, and the Supreme Court nomination of Clarence Thomas.

The Russell Building is a short walk from the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill hotel; however, some bus transportation also will be provided. Badges MUST be worn to the reception for admittance to the Russell Building.

Saturday, April 21

8:00 am - 11:00 am

Registration

General Session Breakfast

Come hear what two expert pollsters have to say about the new Congress and their forecast for the 2008 elections. Kellyanne Conway and Celinda Lake are co-authors of What Women Really Want: How American Women Are Quietly Erasing Political, Racial, Class and Religious Lines to Change the Way We Live. 

REAL ID

Address by Stewart Baker, (or Richard Barth) Assistant Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.

Spring Forum Business Meeting

Debate and Voting on Official Policy Statements and Resolutions 

Forum delegates will debate and vote on NCSL's policy statements and resolutions passed out of the committees. All Forum participants are invited to attend.

Meeting Adjourns