House panel approves bills related to military drivers, port competition

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in May approved legislation to make it easier for qualified military veterans and reservists to drive commercial motor vehicles. H.R. 2258 would exempt active duty military and reserve personnel with qualifying experience from certain commercial driver’s license requirements. H.R. 2547 would expand a provision in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act related to medical exams performed by Department of Veterans Administration physicians to include qualified examiners who are not physicians. The committee also approved legislation (H.R. 2593) to reauthorize the Federal Maritime Commission, including measures ensuring greater FMC oversight of actions by ocean carriers and intermediaries that affect motor carrier access to ports.