Mast Proposes New Legislation Aiming to Ease Supply Chain Bottleneck

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) has introduced 5 new pieces of legislation that addresses the supply chain crisis and its affect that it has on Americans. The House Resolutions cover a multitude of areas ranging from permissible semitrailer lengths and weights, diesel fuel costs, permissible truck driver hours, and the repeal of the 12 percent federal tax on chassis, the bottom frame of a semi-trucks. The resolutions include H.R. 8411, H.R. 8412, H.R. 8413, H.R. 8414, and H.R. 8417.

The Mast press release includes reasoning for the changes and calls out former presidential candidate and current Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg (D-IN). “For over two years, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has waived certain requirements under the guise of the COVID-19 public health emergency, demonstrating the needlessness of the standards.  In a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing with Secretary Buttigieg, Rep. Mast demanded answers on the double standards and outrageous requirements imposed on truckers.”

Mast himself shed light on why the resolution’s enactments are important for the American people and the economy as a whole. “For almost a year, families have struggled to get the items that they need from refrigerators to baby formula.  It should not be that way in America,” Rep. Mast said.  “This is the most efficient economy in the world, and only when the government gets in the way do private companies get stuck.  Today, it became clear that the Administration has no plan to get America moving, and so I’m introducing five bills that will force them into action to cut red tape and let truckers drive.”

According to the press release, the bills are aimed at easing the supply chain bottleneck and encouraging more truck drivers to get back on the road so that the U.S. economy can run at pre-pandemic efficiency. The new bills are supposed to work in congruency with Mast’s prior legislation, H.R. 5847.