No, it’s not Christmas in July, but we are just five months away from the holiday season.  Last year, everyone struggled to get their packages and you may be wondering what the Biden Administration is doing to make sure that doesn’t happen again. 

That’s what I tried to find out today during a Transportation Committee hearing with Biden’s Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.  While Secretary Buttigieg admitted that the burdensome regulations placed on truckers should be re-evaluated given the ongoing supply chain crisis, he offered no solutions from the Biden Administration to fix the supply chain crisis and help more truckers move more goods across America.

What is clear is that the Administration has no plan to get America moving.  That’s why, today, I introduced five bills that will force them into action to cut red tape and let truckers drive.  Here’s a breakdown of the legislation:

• H.R. 8411: This bill would extend the permissible length of a semitrailer from 28 to 33 feet so that trucks can transport additional goods. 

• H.R. 8412: This bill would increase the permissible weight of a semitrailer from 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds to increase the amount of goods that can be transported at once. 

• H.R. 8414: This bill would repeal the current diesel fuel excise tax of 24.3 cents per gallon, which is ultimately paid by consumers, to lower the overall cost of goods. 

• H.R. 8413: This bill would repeal the 12 percent federal tax on chassis, the base frame of a semi truck, to lower the cost of entry for aspiring truckers and get more trucks on the road. 

• H.R. 8417: This bill would permanently repeal a DOT regulation restricting the number of hours truckers are allowed to drive.  During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, DOT temporarily rescinded this regulation, proving that it is unnecessary.  

Today’s exchange with Secretary Buttigieg is proof that Joe Biden has been asleep at the wheel.  He needs to wake up and address the supply chain crisis so that Americans are able to get the goods they rely on. 

You can watch the hearing here: