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U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Holds Confirmation Hearing for NHTSA Administrator
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing today on the nomination of Dr. Steven Scott Cliff, who has been tapped to be the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Dr. Cliff most recently served as the deputy executive officer of the California Air…
Read MoreFHWA Guidance Prohibits EV Charging Within Interstate Right-of-Way
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published guidance this week regarding electric vehicle charging stations within the interstate right-of-way. Federal law prohibits commercial services, including electric vehicle charging stations, within the interstate right-of-way, including rest stops. This serves to enhance the businesses of off-highway communities and towns. NATSO,…
Read MoreBiden-Harris Administration Releases Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation This week, the Biden-Harris Administration released an Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan that outlines steps federal agencies are taking to support developing and deploying a national network of electric vehicle chargers. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed earlier this year, allocated $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging. The…
Read MoreEU Opposes EV Tax Credits for Union-Made Vehicles
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The European Commission sent a letter to U.S. Senate leadership this week urging them to reconsider the electric vehicle tax credits currently included in the Build Back Better budget reconciliation plan. The letter, sent by Vladis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, is supportive of EV…
Read MoreDepartment of Transportation Announces EV Charging Station Program
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) posted a request for comments today in the Federal Register related to the new electric vehicle (EV) charging station program. This program, which was authorized by H.R. 3684, the bipartisan infrastructure plan, will distribute money through discretionary grants for electric vehicle…
Read MoreSupreme Court Rejects Volkswagen Appeals on Potential Emissions Cheating Liability
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation This week, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear appeals from automaker Volkswagen related to their potential emissions cheating scandal. This means that the case will go back to lower courts to determine whether or not Volkswagen is liable, and to what extent they will be held…
Read MoreFederal Court Blocks President Biden’s Vaccination Mandate
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation A Louisiana federal appeals court has blocked the mandate issued by President Joe Biden that would require companies with 100 or more employees to either verify that their employees are vaccinated or require them to wear face masks and submit to weekly COVID-19 tests. The panel of…
Read MoreMassachusetts Bill Would Place Time Limit on Insurance Claims Investigations
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation A committee of the Massachusetts legislature held a hearing this week on H. 1151, a bill that would limit the amount of time insurance companies have to investigate the cause of a loss, and would require the insurer to make payments for the vehicle while the investigation…
Read MoreNHTSA Releases Crash Data and Driver Behaviors for 2021
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a report today analyzing traffic safety data for the first half of 2021. According to the report, an estimated 20,160 people died in motor-vehicle-related crashes in the first half of 2021. This is a projected 18.6% spike in traffic…
Read MoreIIHS Study Shows Better Headlights Lead to Less Crashes
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation According to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), vehicles with headlights that earn a “good” rating have a 19% lower nighttime crash rate than those with worse ratings. In the study, researchers point out that federal headlight regulations, which have not changed…
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