Representative Silva assumes Chair of Transportation Committee

Representative Dan Silva, New Mexico will serve as the Chair for the 2007-2008 Transportation Committee. John Snyder of Kentucky will continue for a second year as the Staff Chair. Six senators and representatives were added as Vice Chairs of the Committee as listed opposite, along with one new Staff Vice Chair. The appointments were made by NCSL President Donna Stone (Delaware House of Representatives) and NCSL Staff Chair Sharon Crouch Steidel of Virginia. NCSL appreciates the Committee officers’ willingness to serve.

Real ID Resolution revised

The NCSL Action Calendar Resolution urging Congress to fix and fund the Real ID was amended at the Fall Forum in Phoenix, Arizona to call for the reinstitution of a negotiated rulemaking process.  The deadline of December 31, 2007 for fixes and funding was retained, and the resolution passed by a voice vote during the NCSL forum business meeting on November 30^th.  A copy of the approved resolution can be found online at www.ncsl.org/standcomm/sctran/PoliciesFF07New.htm.

DHS Assistant Secretary urges legislators to hold their fire

DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy Richard Barth spoke about Real ID during the closing session of the Forum, telling attendees to “hold your fire until you can actually read the darn thing”—referring to the final implementing regulations currently under OMB review and scheduled for release soon.  He assured state legislators that their views had been taken seriously, and that the new implementing regulations would reflect the Department’s acknowledgement of the need to fix and fund the act.  A press release of the session can be found online at www.ncsl.org/programs/press/2007/pressrelease.htm, and a podcast recorded with Mr. Barth can be found at http://ncsl.typepad.com/the_thicket/2007/12/real-id-where-d.html.

Fall Forum sessions on Rail security, NAFTA draw high interest

Transportation Committee members took part in many interesting sessions at the Fall Forum on topics such as “Shipping Securely on America’s Rails,” “NAFTA and the Security & Prosperity Partnership,” “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses,” and the “Role of Motor Vehicle Title Systems in Preventing Auto Theft.”  Details including presentation slides and handouts are available online at www.ncsl.org/standcomm/sctran/fallforumtranpres07.htm.

Surface Transportation Reauthorization Working Group launches deliberations

The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Working Group began its work by surveying various groups’ evaluations of current of surface transportation policy on October 31^st, and met a second time in conjunction with the Fall Forum to focus on transit.  With the 2009 expiration of the current authorizing legislation looming, Working Group members concluded early on that numerous issues need to be addressed in the current system and that NCSL policy will need revision in order to address these problems.  Notes from these first two meetings along with the mission statement of the Group can be found at www.ncsl.org/standcomm/sctran/reauthgroup.htm.