The Nation

STILWELL, Kan. — Traffic whizzing behind her, Rep. Sharice Davids gathered reporters at a transportation facility along U.S. 69 in eastern Kansas this week to celebrate the surge of federal money headed in her state’s direction. The massive infrastructure package passed last week means $2.6 billion for Kansas roads — some of the largest investments in them since President Dwight D. Eisenhower, once a Kansan himself, supported the construction of the national highway system in the 1950s. “I think that a lot of us recognize, just like President Eisenhower did, that infrastructure is a key to long-term economic growth,” said Davids, who proudly declared herself a “born-again transportation enthusiast.” Davids is hardly the only member of her party celebrating. With their narrow control of Congress at stake in 2022, Democrats across the country are donning hard hats and staging photo ops near bridges to highlight long-neglected public works projects set to spring to life thanks to the more than $1 trillion plan. It’s an attempt to move past months of infighting between progressives and moderates and unite around a shovel-ready approach to kicking the post-coronavirus pandemic economy into high gear. For Democrats like Davids, facing tough reelection fights, the public works bonanza may be their ticket out of political peril — a potential boon with moderate and independent voters who turned against the party in last week’s elections in New Jersey and Virginia and who will decide races in most swing districts next year. “Now is the time to turn the corner,” said New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, Democratic Congressional Committee chairman. “There’s enough blame to go around, but we have achieved a huge win for working and middle-class people.” Among those Maloney blames for the current climate is President Joe Biden, who Maloney says has failed to properly promote what’s already been achieved. “I think my colleagues on Capitol Hill are desperate to follow the president, but we need him to lead and he needs to use that extraordinary voice that he has,” Maloney said, recalling Biden channeling his working-class Pennsylvania roots on his way to winning that state and the presidency last year. “We want Scranton Joe out there explaining this blue-collar blueprint to grow the American economy and we will follow him.” The White House says Biden will aggressively sell his party’s legislative accomplishment. The president traveled to the Port of Baltimore on Wednesday to tout the package, though he acknowledged it would not quickly ease the rising inflation or supply chain issues weighing on the economy: “We still face challenges and we have to tackle them,” he said. Maloney said he wants more. He called for Biden to use a nationally televised address to cheer the measure, coupled with 25 visits around the country for himself and an equal number for Vice President Kamala Harris to promote popular public works projects it will fund. Maloney also wants to see House Democrats stage more than 1,000 of their own events to do the same, backed by a $10 million Democratic National Committee advertising buy to explain the plan to the public. The goal isn’t just detailing the package, but wielding it as a cudgel over congressional Republicans — all but 13 of whom voted against it. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says it plans to “weaponize” the infrastructure plan — praising it while attacking Republicans facing their own close reelection fights next year for opposing it. Infrastructure spending has broad bipartisan support in polling, but House Republicans argued the bill was packed with Democratic priorities beyond road repairs and bridges. Still, former President Donald Trump seemed to acknowledge the political potential for Democrats this week when he blamed Republicans who backed the measure for voting “for Democrat longevity.” Many who did have faced sharp criticism from constituents; Michigan Rep. Fred Upton said he and his family had received death threats. Democrats report that the reaction back home has been the opposite. In New Jersey, Rep. Josh Gottheimer said he received a high-five when he walked into a diner Monday. Gottheimer, a top GOP target next year, led an effort by House moderates to ensure the infrastructure bill passed even as his progressive colleagues pushed for more immediate action on a separate, larger social spending plan dubbed “Build Back Better.” Now he’s is pushing colleagues to promote the pieces voters can relate to — expanding a tunnel known as Gateway, a commuter rail line under the Hudson River that links his state and New York City, or fixing the state’s roads. “You actually have to explain it to people. It can’t be a number. It has to be about how it affects their lives,” he said. He added with a laugh, “If you talk to anyone who’s from Jersey, you get the tire insurance because you’re always getting flat tires from hitting potholes.” Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., said the legislation “is going to be huge” for “the daily commutes and the daily lives” of her constituents, noting that the package could help further expand Metro train service in her exurban territory west of Washington. It could also bolster internet service in areas where families sometimes had to drive to libraries to access broadband — despite being only around 50 miles from the nation’s capital. Republican Glenn Youngkin won Virginia’s governorship in an upset last week, and his party took control of the state House. Youngkin’s Democratic opponent, Terry McAuliffe, had suggested in vain that Democrats should  act more quickly to pass the infrastructure bill. “I don’t know what it would have done,” Wexton said of whether that would have changed the results. “Obviously, it was not ideal not to have it passed.” Now at home on recess, vulnerable Democrats are emphasizing the local projects that could mean improved quality of life — and jobs. In Michigan, Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin praised the plan alongside labor union members this week, noting that $1.3 billion can be used to replace pipes in a state that has seen communities struggle with lead in tap water. Even as they sell the bill, some Democrats remain focused on the next priority. They want approval of Biden’s even bigger $1.85 trillion measure, which is designed to dramatically expand federal spending for social programs, child care and climate change mitigation — but has yet to clear Congress. That was part of Rep. Cindy Axne’s message to renewable fuel advocates at a western Iowa ethanol plant this week. The Democratic congresswoman has secured funding for renewable fuels, a major industry in her district, in the second spending package. “If we do not support the human infrastructure, which is truly what’s driving this country, we aren’t supporting infrastructure,” she said. In Minnesota, Rep. Angie Craig, a Democrat representing swing suburbs outside the Twin Cities, described the infrastructure plan as equally a jobs and public projects plan. But she, like Axne, noted that Biden’s broader proposal might register more with voters. “There is so much in Build Back Better that people are going to actually feel in their daily lives,” Craig said. “Build Back Better is going to change the way people can function in their daily lives, and that it’s at least as important as infrastructure.”  

QUEENS, N.Y. — A former New York truck driver has been sentenced to up to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty in September to holding more than $2.5 million in stolen Gucci and Chanel designer merchandise. According to Queens, New York, District Attorney Melinda Katz, David Lacarriere, 34, was part of a larger plot to steal more than $4 million in luxury items from the John F. Kennedy International Airport. The criminal enterprise began in May 2020, Katz said. Lacarriere and another defendant, who was previously sentenced, were caught with jewelry, handbags, ready-to-wear clothes, sneakers and other accessories. “Millions of dollars’ worth of designer merchandise was illegally hauled off airport property by a crew of bandits who used forged cargo shipment receipts to gain access to an importer/exporter warehouse,” Katz said. “Keeping our airports in Queens safe and secure is a top priority of my office. Two of the defendants have now been sentenced by the court for their roles in this brazen heist.” Lacarriere, of Columbus Avenue in Manhattan, pleaded guilty in September to criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree, a B felony, before Queens Supreme Court Justice Gene Lopez. He was sentenced on Nov. 8. Co-defendant Oscar Asencio, 33, of 88th Street in Elmhurst, Queens, pleaded guilty in August to criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, also before Justice Lopez, who sentenced Asencio on Aug. 16 to 3.5 to six years in prison. According to court documents, on May 17, 2020, forged documents were used to gain access to a cargo importer facility at the Kennedy airport, where the theft crew made away with a large shipment of high-end, designer merchandise in an 18-wheeler. Port Authority Police recovered the abandoned semi trailer used in the heist on May 29, 2020, on 56th Road in Maspeth, New York. Inside, police found only shipping pallets, shipping tags, wrapping material and display cases. In an effort to erase evidence, the trailer was doused with bleach, police said. Katz said the investigative team utilized physical investigative techniques, surveillance, as well as GPS and an extensive video canvassing to track Lacarriere and his co-conspirators to a non-operational beauty salon believed to be used as a stash house for the stolen goods. Port Authority Police and the JFK FBI Task Force put the location – Candi World Beauty Bar at Guy R. Brewer and 147th Avenue in Jamaica – under physical surveillance. Defendant Asencio, according to court records, helped protect the stolen merchandise in the stash location. Asencio was seen on surveillance video carrying bags filled with the stolen property in and out of the building. Katz said that while observing what appeared to be a sale of some of the stolen property on June 3, 2020, the investigative team froze the Candi World location. Spotting the authorities, Lacarriere ran from police and hid inside the building. The investigative team executed a court-authorized search warrant for the location, searched the site, and found Lacarriere hiding in a closet. Additionally, police discovered mountains of boxes stuffed with the stolen designer goods – still in the manufacturers’ packaging, according to court documents. In all, police recovered more than 3,000 authentic Gucci items – clothes, handbags and other accoutrements. They also recovered just over 1,000 authentic Chanel products – purses, jewelry, sunglasses, shoes and other accessories. The value of the recovered merchandise totaled more than $2.5 million. Katz said the investigation and prosecution uncovered a weakness in the security of the region’s air cargo industry. Working with the Port Authority and the Transportation Security Administration, improved safety and security measures have been implemented, she said.

KATHLEEN, Ga. – Marine veteran James C. Rose is no stranger to leadership. After a 30-plus year career in the military, commitments to working hard, staying disciplined and maintaining a positive attitude have always been at the forefront of his life. Now, the veteran-turned-trucker is one of three finalists in the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” program, which honors America’s top rookie military driver and recognizes veterans who have made a successful transition from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet. Following more than 10 years of enlistment, Rose served as an officer for 20 years and retired as a lieutenant colonel. Shortly after, he earned his CDL through Prime’s CDL training program and signed on with the company. In December, Rose will celebrate his one-year anniversary driving for Prime. “This past year truly has been a blessing,” Rose said. “I wake up every day with a positive attitude, excited to hit the road. I enjoy talking to other drivers and learning about the industry. I’m committed to being the best driver I can be.” Rose said his goal is to become a fleet owner within the next five years, adding that the trucking industry is a good option for other veterans transitioning to civilian life. “I think many of the skills you learn in the military apply as a driver, plus you get to see parts of the country you would never get to see otherwise,” Rose said. “One day I hope to create jobs through ownership of my own trucks. I would love to have the ability to hire former service members and provide them with a good place to work. I’ll continue to be an advocate for veterans entering in this industry.” For the sixth consecutive year, Kenworth has teamed with the FASTPORT Trucking Track Mentoring Program and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes Program to support Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence. Kenworth will provide The Driver’s Truck™ – a Kenworth T680 with a 76-inch sleeper – to serve as the program’s award to this year’s overall winner. The T680 features the complete PACCAR Powertrain with PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles. “To have the opportunity to win a (Kenworth) T680 and share this experience with fellow veterans is incredible,” Rose said. “If I do win the truck, I’ll have a head start in obtaining my goals.” Prior to training Marine recruits, Rose spent several years as a Marine aviation ordnance technician and aviation ordnance officer where he spent time on board aircraft carriers during deployments to the Gulf War and throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaigns. It was in those years that Rose grew an interest in the supply chain and logistics, which led him to join the transportation industry upon retiring honorably from the Marines. “As an aviation ordnance officer, part of my role was managing the logistics of aviation munitions, associated equipment, and parts both stateside and overseas,” Rose said. “I learned a lot and grew a deep appreciation for all the processes involved in keeping the supply chain moving. Each day truck drivers work hard to deliver their loads safely and on time. There is a need for drivers and, by becoming one, I’m able to continue to serve my country by transporting essentials goods.” Looking back on his military career, Rose said: “To be a leader of young men and women and watch their growth from entering as recruits to becoming Marines was so rewarding. It was an honor to teach and develop the next generation of Marines. I have three sons, Xavier, Kyri, and Jalen, who currently serve in the Navy and I’m so proud of them for their service.” The Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award winner will be announced on Dec. 17 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. More information is available by visiting www.transitiontrucking.org www.fastport.com and www.hiringourheroes.org

WASHINGTON — The proposed Interstate 14 corridor between west Texas and Mississippi will receive funding as part of the Build Back Better Plan’s infrastructure bill recently approved by Congress. When finished, the interstate will run from Midland, Texas, to Gulf Port, Mississippi. The legislation doesn’t note how much funding the project will receive, however. The I-14 Central Texas Corridor, authorized in 2015, currently runs from West Texas to the Texas-Louisiana border generally following US 190, according to the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition. The first 25-mile section of I-14 from Killeen and Fort Hood to I-35 at Belton was added to the Interstate Highway System in 2017. The proposed legislation would create the Central Louisiana Corridor extending the I-14 corridor eastward following highways LA 8, LA 28 and US 84 in Louisiana through Leesville, Fort Polk, Alexandria, Pineville and Vidalia where it would cross the Mississippi River. In Mississippi it would create the Central Mississippi Corridor following US 84 eastward from Natchez to Brookhaven and then to Laurel where it would terminate at Interstate 59. It includes a north-south interstate spur reaching south from Laurel to Gulfport generally following US 49 and passing near the gate at the Army’s Camp Shelby. The Mississippi Transportation Commission has approved a resolution supporting the Future I-14 designation pointing to the potential for economic growth in south Mississippi. In Texas the corridor would be expanded to the west so that it will serve San Angelo, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Midland-Odessa and the Permian Basin. At Midland-Odessa the corridor will connect to Interstate 20 which runs westward to join with I-10 and leads to El Paso and Fort Bliss, completing the linkage between six military facilities across three states. Spur routes in Texas would extend southward to provide better access to the strategic military seaports at Beaumont, Port Arthur and Corpus Christi. This will enhance military readiness and efficiency as envisioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower when he first commissioned America’s interstate highway system in 1956. The Permian Basin Spur would follow US 385 from I-20 at Odessa south to I-10. A second spur would follow US 83 and connect I-14 to I-10 at Junction. Two more spurs would connect I-14 to I-10 at Beaumont, one on US 69 south from Woodville and the second on US 96 south from Jasper.

BALTIMORE — The Biden administration is relying on infrastructure dollars to help fix the clogged ports and blanket the nation with internet access — but a series of initiatives rolled out on Tuesday show that the urgent pace might not be fast enough to address the immediate needs of an economy coping with a supply chain squeeze and a shift to remote work. President Joe Biden spoke with the CEOs of Wal-Mart, Target, UPS and FedEx on Tuesday about how to relieve the supply chain challenges as ships are still waiting to dock at some of the country’s leading ports. The key problem is that these ports are experiencing record volumes of shipping containers as the economy has recovered from the pandemic. Biden received updates from the CEOs on how deliveries are being sped up to ensure that store shelves will be well-stocked this holiday season, according to a White House official. Bloomberg News first reported Biden’s conversations with the corporate leaders. Yet the concrete policy steps being discussed by the administration show that there is no quick fix to supply chain issues that are still hurting smaller businesses and causing consumers to face higher prices. Nor can the administration build out a national broadband network fast enough as more Americans are pivoting toward remote work. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted at the White House briefing the $65 billion for broadband access in the the $1 trillion infrastructure package that cleared the House on Friday. She said that jobs would be created and poorer Americans would receive “affordable” internet service, though she did not spell out a precise dollar amount on what the monthly bills could be. The plan involves careful logistics that would take time to implement. Each state would receive at least $100 million to help lay fiberoptic cables and ensure its citizens can access the internet. This process would occur as jobseekers are increasingly requesting remote work where they can work from home on their computers. “The president wants us to get it right,” Raimondo said. “And if it takes a little longer to lay the groundwork for fiber and broadband, then we’re going to do that.” Similarly, the administration announced plans on Tuesday to identify and pay for possible upgrades to U.S. ports within the next 90 days — hoping to ultimately tamp down the inflation being caused by ships waiting to dock and a shortage of truck drivers to haul goods. As the U.S. emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, the economic recovery has been hampered by congested and aging ports. The mix of inflation and the potential for empty store shelves during holiday shopping has created a sense of frustration for many Americans and hurt President Joe Biden and Democrats politically. Senior administration officials said Tuesday that the Transportation Department would allow port authorities to redirect any leftover money from grant projects to address the supply chain issues. For example, the Georgia Ports Authority will use $8 million to convert its inland facilities for the port of Savannah into container yards, freeing up dock space and speeding the flow of goods to their final destinations. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the forthcoming plans, which come on the heels of the House backing the bipartisan infrastructure package late Friday. The package includes $17 billion to improve coastal and land-based ports that can help to tackle the challenges in the longer term. Biden’s team is moving straight ahead in promoting the possible benefits from the broader infrastructure package, though they’ve largely shied away from claiming that Americans could see clear and demonstrable changes to their lives before the 2022 midterm elections. The focus, instead, has been on how the spending on roads, bridges and broadband will help the U.S. economy compete against the rest of the world. The president in remarks to Democratic supporters on Tuesday signaled that he will look to remind voters in the months ahead of the infrastructure win. He noted “the last president” promised to pursue legislation but failed to deliver. “So it was left to us,” Biden said at the virtual event hosted by the Democratic National Committee. “We got the job done.” Administration officials said the ports initiatives being announced Tuesday would make the supply chain faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly in the medium to longer term. Biden will highlight the administration’s efforts by visiting Baltimore’s port on Wednesday. It’s part of a broader effort to show that the administration will tackle the inflation that has left Americans feeling more pessimistic about the economy. Updated figures for the consumer price index will be released Wednesday, with the previous report showing prices were 5.4% higher than a year ago. The Baltimore trip is designed to highlight the types of investments that the administration believes will help unclog the supply chain. The port in Baltimore is adding container cranes and adding a 50-foot berth where ships can be unloaded. The administration has also approved grants so that the Howard Street Tunnel — a train artery that opened in 1895 — can be expanded to ferry double-stacked containers on railcars. The Biden administration earlier helped broker an agreement to increase the hours of operation at the Port of Los Angeles, but it’s been difficult to immediately fix this challenge. Additional steps include launching a $240 million grant program in the next 45 days to modernize ports and marine highways. Within 60 days, the government wants to identify repair projects and opportunities to deepen harbors for larger ships that can be a guide for more than $4 billion in construction by the Army Corps of Engineers. The government will also look over the next 90 days at which ports of entry should be upgraded and expanded as part of a $3.4 billion investment. It also plans within 90 days to open the first round of more than $475 million in grants for ports made possible through the newly passed infrastructure package. The Transportation Department intends to publish a playbook for states on freight movement and issue guidance on best practices, so that the value of the infrastructure investments can be maximized. There will also be a request for information by the Transportation Department to improve data collection and sharing to improve the efficiency and transparency of the supply chain.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The American Trucking Associations, along with the Louisiana Motor Truck Association, the Mississippi Trucking Association and the Texas Trucking Association, is suing the Biden Administration over its employer-based COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The suit was filed late Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. “To be very clear, ATA and its member companies support efforts to encourage all Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 – our trucks and drivers have been on the front line in fighting this pandemic since the beginning, moving personal protective equipment, test kits, the vaccine itself and much more as the country locked down, but we believe that the Biden Administration has overstepped its statutory authority in issuing this Emergency Temporary Standard,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “This standard arbitrarily picks winners and losers, and puts employers in an untenable position of forcing workers to choose between working and their private medical decisions, which is something that cannot be allowed. “We told the administration that this mandate, given the nature of our industry and makeup of our workforce, could have devastating impacts on the supply chain and the economy and they have, unfortunately, chosen to move forward despite those warnings,” he said. “So we are now, regrettably, forced to seek to have this mandate overturned in court.” Joining ATA in the lawsuit are the Food Marketing Institute, the International Warehouse Logistics Association, the National Association of Convenience Stores, the National Retail Federation, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and the National Federation of Independent Business. “We are asking the court to stay implementation of the mandate because we believe the Occupational Safety and Health Administration did not satisfy the statutory requirements for issuing this Emergency Temporary Standard instead of going through the proper rulemaking process,” said Nicholas Geale, ATA vice president of workforce policy. “A stay pending full review is essential to ensure our members can continue to keep the supply chain moving without the enormous disruptions this unlawful ETS will cause the trucking industry and our nation’s consumers – including the 80% percent of American communities that depend exclusively on trucks for their needs.” A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily halted the Biden administration’s vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers. On Wednesday morning, the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) offered its support of the lawsuit. In a news release, TCA officials said the organization “will continue to work closely with, and fully supports the work being done by the ATA and our industry partners on behalf of the industry.” “We are asking the court to stay implementation of the mandate because we believe the Occupational Safety and Health Administration did not satisfy the statutory requirements for issuing this Emergency Temporary Standard instead of going through the proper rulemaking process,” said ATA Vice President of Workforce Policy Nicholas Geale. “A stay pending full review is essential to ensure our members can continue to keep the supply chain moving without the enormous disruptions this unlawful ETS will cause the trucking industry and our nation’s consumers – including the 80% percent of American communities that depend exclusively on trucks for their needs.”

NEW ORLEANS — A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily halted the Biden administration’s vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly tests. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said the action stops President Joe Biden “from moving forward with his unlawful overreach.” “The president will not impose medical procedures on the American people without the checks and balances afforded by the constitution,” said a statement from Landry, a Republican. The U.S. Labor Department’s top legal adviser, Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda, said the department is “confident in its legal authority to issue the emergency temporary standard on vaccination and testing.” OSHA has the authority “to act quickly in an emergency where the agency finds that workers are subjected to a grave danger and a new standard is necessary to protect them,” she said. A spokesman for the Justice Department, Anthony Coley, said in a statement: “The OSHA emergency temporary standard is a critical tool to keep America’s workplaces safe as we fight our way out of this pandemic. The Justice Department will vigorously defend this rule in court.” Such circuit decisions normally apply to states within a district — Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, in this case — but Landry said the language employed by the judges gave the decision a national scope. “This is a great victory for the American people out there. Never before has the federal government tried in a such a forceful way to get between the choices of an American citizen and their doctor. To me that’s the heart of the entire issue,” he said. At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule in several circuits, some of which were made more conservative by the judicial appointments of President Donald Trump. The Biden administration has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way to end the pandemic that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the United States. The administration says it is confident that the requirement, which includes penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation, will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules preempt state laws. The 5th Circuit, based in New Orleans, said it was delaying the federal vaccine requirement because of potential “grave statutory and constitutional issues” raised by the plaintiffs. The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday, followed by petitioners’ reply on Tuesday. Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center and director of the World Health Organization’s center on global health law, said it was troubling that a federal appeals court would stop or delay safety rules in a health crisis, saying no one has a right to go into a workplace “unmasked, unvaxxed and untested.” “Unelected judges that have no scientific experience shouldn’t be second-guessing health and safety professionals at OSHA,” he said.

WASHINGTON — The $1 trillion infrastructure plan that now goes to President Joe Biden to sign into law has money for roads, bridges, ports, rail transit, safe water, the power grid, broadband internet and more. The House passed the bipartisan plan Friday night and Biden said Saturday he will hold a signing ceremony when lawmakers return from a week’s recess. The new law promises to reach almost every corner of the country. It’s a historic investment that the president has compared to the building of the transcontinental railroad and Interstate Highway System. The White House is projecting that the investments will add, on average, about 2 million jobs per year over the coming decade. The bill cleared the House on a 228-206 vote, ending weeks of intraparty negotiations in which liberal Democrats insisted the legislation be tied to a larger, $1.75 trillion social spending bill — an effort to press more moderate Democrats to support both. The Senate passed the legislation on a 69-30 vote in August after rare bipartisan negotiations, and the House kept that compromise intact. Thirteen House Republicans voted for the bill, giving Democrats more than enough votes to overcome a handful of defections from progressives. Here’s a breakdown of the bill: ROADS AND BRIDGES The bill would provide $110 billion to repair the nation’s aging highways, bridges and roads. According to the White House, 173,000 total miles or nearly 280,000 kilometers of America’s highways and major roads and 45,000 bridges are in poor condition. And the almost $40 billion for bridges is the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the national highway system, according to the Biden administration. PUBLIC TRANSIT The $39 billion for public transit in the legislation would expand transportation systems, improve accessibility for people with disabilities and provide dollars to state and local governments to buy zero-emission and low-emission buses. The Transportation Department estimates that the current repair backlog is more than 24,000 buses, 5,000 rail cars, 200 stations and thousands of miles of track and power systems. PASSENGER AND FREIGHT RAIL To reduce Amtrak’s maintenance backlog, which has worsened since Superstorm Sandy nine years ago, the bill would provide $66 billion to improve the rail service’s Northeast Corridor (457 miles, 735 km), as well as other routes. It’s less than the $80 billion Biden — who famously rode Amtrak from Delaware to Washington during his time in the Senate — originally asked for, but it would be the largest federal investment in passenger rail service since Amtrak was founded 50 years ago. ELECTRIC VEHICLES The bill would spend $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations, which the administration says are critical to accelerating the use of electric vehicles to curb climate change. It would also provide $5 billion for the purchase of electric school buses and hybrids, reducing reliance on school buses that run on diesel fuel. INTERNET ACCESS The legislation’s $65 billion for broadband access would aim to improve internet services for rural areas, low-income families and tribal communities. Most of the money would be made available through grants to states. MODERNIZING THE ELECTRIC GRID To protect against the power outages that have become more frequent in recent years, the bill would spend $65 billion to improve the reliability and resiliency of the power grid. It would also boost carbon capture technologies and more environmentally friendly electricity sources like clean hydrogen. AIRPORTS The bill would spend $25 billion to improve runways, gates and taxiways at airports and to improve terminals. It would also improve aging air traffic control towers. WATER AND WASTEWATER The legislation would spend $55 billion on water and wastewater infrastructure. It has $15 billion to replace lead pipes and $10 billion to address water contamination from polyfluoroalkyl substances — chemicals that were used in the production of Teflon and have also been used in firefighting foam, water-repellent clothing and many other items. PAYING FOR IT The five-year spending package would be paid for by tapping $210 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief aid and $53 billion in unemployment insurance aid some states have halted, along with an array of smaller pots of money, like petroleum reserve sales and spectrum auctions for 5G services.  

Shortly after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced in late October that an internal audit found vulnerabilities within computer servers at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) issued an alert of its own. In a document sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Nov. 1, SBTC Executive Director James Lamb said the recent USDOT Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) audit of the FMCSA’s systems overlooked several key problems. Lamb also sent a letter of concern to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. “On October 24, 2021, I reported ongoing daily data breaches at FMCSA to the Bureau’s New York Field Office and have been forwarding information via email to them the past few weeks. I am now writing to memorialize my report to the Bureau,” Lamb wrote in his letter to the FBI. Lamb also noted that, through the services of a private investigation firm, the SBTC determined in March 2019 that the FMCSA’s systems were being breached through unauthorized access of the agency’s law enforcement officer user portal. “As FMCSA knows, this is the only way a third party can obtain a carrier’s phone number and email address in real time minutes after FMCSA’s system issues a USDOT Number,” Lamb wrote. Lamb further wrote that “Only the LEO (law enforcement officer) tool affords this level of access, which we believe means either these third parties have registered as LEOs under false pretenses to acquire unauthorized access or they are bribing actual LEOs to use their bona fide credentials.” Lamb contends that the government has ignored the SBTC’s “evidence we supplied from a duly licensed private investigative firm that concluded unauthorized disclosure of (personal, private information) has indeed happened and continues to happen. On. A. Daily. Basis. [sic]” Lamb added: “By knowingly allowing the intrusion to go on for years, we contend the FMCSA has violated its legal obligation to protect citizens’ (personal, private information) and has negligently disseminated industry’s PII by failing to admit to and terminate the breach in the hopes this will go undetected so they don’t have to deal with the fallout.” FMCSA spokesman Duane DeBruyne deferred questions from The Trucker to a DOT document outlining the internal audit. The DOT has also initiated an audit of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) information technology infrastructure. For its part, the DOT said the internal investigation at the FMCSA found multiple critical vulnerabilities on web servers that function within that agency. Those servers contain a “mountain” of personal and sensitive data, the DOT report noted. “FMCSA did not detect our access or placement of malware on the network in part because it did not use required automated detection tools and malicious code protections,” the DOT report stated. “We also gained access to 13.6 million unencrypted (personal identity) records. Had malicious hackers obtained (these records) it could have cost FMCSA up to $570 million in credit monitoring fees,” the report noted. “Furthermore, the agency does not always remediate vulnerabilities as quickly as DOT policy requires. These weaknesses put FMCSA’s network and data at risk for unauthorized access and compromise.” The FMCSA uses 13 web-based applications to aid vehicle registration, inspections and other activities. The DOT said it recommended 13 different points of action that FMCSA officials need to take to better secure the agency’s information. “We consider all 13 recommendations resolved but open pending FMCSA’s completion of planned actions,” DOT officials said. On Nov. 3, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced that it was conducting its own cybersecurity check. Several drivers The Trucker spoke with about the issue were hesitant to comment. On The Trucker Facebook page, Robin Simmons said she recently received a letter from J.B. Hunt saying that her Social Security number and other information had been compromised. Jeff Pearson said: “We never had that problem before computers … maybe they should go back … to the old way.” Russ Robinson said: “So you put out the information that they are vulnerable to hackers, so the hackers can know that they are vulnerable to being hacked? When do the hackers begin hacking the hackable?” The revealing of FMCSA’s vulnerabilities comes at a time when cyberattacks on government agencies, private entities and businesses are on the rise. In the trucking industry, Marten Transport announced in late October that its systems had fallen victim to a cyberattack. Based on a preliminary assessment, Marten officials said they do not believe the incident will have a material impact on its business, operations or financial results. Most Americans say they have serious concerns about cyberattacks on U.S. computer systems and view China and Russia as major threats, according to a new poll. The poll, conducted by The Pearson Institute and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, shows that about nine in 10 Americans are at least somewhat concerned about hacking that involves their personal information, financial institutions, government agencies or certain utilities. About two-thirds say they are very or extremely concerned. Roughly three-quarters of respondents believe the Chinese and Russian governments are major threats to the cybersecurity of the U.S. government, and at least half also see Iran — both government and non-government bodies — as threatening. Several high-profile ransomware attacks and cyber espionage campaigns in the past year have compromised sensitive government records and led to the shutdown of the operations of energy companies, hospitals, schools and more. The explosion in the last year of ransomware, in which cybercriminals encrypt an organization’s data and then demand payment to unscramble it, has underscored how gangs of extortionist hackers can disrupt the economy and put lives and livelihoods at risk. One of the cyber incidents with the greatest consequences this year was a ransomware attack in May on the Colonial Pipeline, the nation’s largest fuel pipeline, which led to gas shortages along the East Coast. A few weeks later, a ransomware attack on the world’s largest meat-processing company disrupted production around the world. Victims of ransomware attacks have ranged from key U.S. agencies and Fortune 500 companies to smaller entities such as the city of Leonardtown, Maryland, which was one of hundreds of organizations affected worldwide when software company Kaseya was hit by ransomware during the Fourth of July weekend. “We ended up being very lucky, but it definitely opened our eyes that it could happen to anyone,” said Laschelle McKay, the town administrator. She said Leonardtown’s IT provider was able to restore the town’s network and files after several days. The criminal syndicates that dominate the ransomware business are mostly Russian-speaking and operate with near impunity out of Russia or countries allied with Russia, according to reports from the U.S. government and other agencies. The U.S. government has also blamed Russian spies for a major breach of U.S. government agencies — an incident known as the SolarWinds hack, so named for the U.S. software company whose product was used in the hacking. China has also been active. In July, the Biden administration formally blamed China for a massive hack of Microsoft Exchange email server software and asserted that criminal hackers associated with the Chinese government have carried out ransomware attacks and other illicit cyber operations. “The amount of Chinese cyber actors dwarfs the rest of the globe, combined,” said Rob Joyce, the director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency. “The elite in that group really are elite. It’s a law of large numbers.” Both Russia and China have denied any wrongdoing. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

ITASCA, Ill. — The National Safety Council (NSC) and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) said that Friday’s passage of the nation’s infrastructure bill is taking a much-needed step forward in improving highway safety. As deaths on the road continue to rise, the NSC said there has been a need for “a united, national response to this public health crisis in order to save lives.” “NSC data show traffic fatalities are climbing, with more than 42,000 people estimated to have died on the roads in 2020 and another 21,000 in the first six months of 2021,” said Mark Chung, NSC vice president, roadway practice. “One life lost in a roadway crash is devastating enough, much less thousands, and the provisions included in this bill are vital to saving lives. NSC is committed to working with Congress and the Department of Transportation to do that and ultimately bring that number to zero.” GHSA said it is urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to quickly implement the safety provisions included in the infrastructure plan, including initiating new rulemakings on federal grant programs, passive alcohol detection technology and other vehicle safety measures. Many provisions included in the legislation are a reflection of the NSC’s Road to Zero report issued in 2018. In it, the NSC called on policymakers and others to follow its three pillars for roadway safety: double down on what works, advance technology and prioritize safety with a safe system approach. Some of these provisions include: Implementation of the safe system approach in roadway design, acknowledging that people make mistakes and the cost of those mistakes should not be death Requiring passive, advanced impaired driving prevention technology to prevent impaired driving within three years Prioritizing safe mobility for all roadway users, including vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists A Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program that will provide funding to states and localities to develop or implement Vision Zero and Toward Zero Deaths plans Increased funding for states to improve traffic safety laws Supporting automated enforcement in roadway work zones Improving crash data collection overall, including support for near real-time crash reporting and incorporating the National EMS Information System more fully into crash reporting Adding policy-substance impaired driving and the presences of advanced driver assistance systems to crash reporting documentation Requiring within two years rear seat alerting technology in vehicles to alert for children remaining in the backseat after a vehicle is turned off Supporting flexibility in safety funding Improving data collection on impaired driving crashes for alcohol, drugs and multi-substance impaired crashes and improving toxicology testing from those crashes Establishing minimum performance standards for life-saving ADAS technology Updating the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) to include more safety features Studying rural roads and strategies to improve safety for all users Funding training of child passenger safety technicians in underserved communities Replacing the word “accidents” with “crashes” in the U.S. Code “With the number of traffic fatalities going up, not down, this legislation gives states access to substantially more federal grant funds to stop dangerous driving and improve safety infrastructure,” the GHSA’s statement said. “Congress has eased requirements to allow more states to qualify for federal safety grants and authorized the use of federal funds for a wider array of safety activities. The Act also cuts federal red tape and removes bureaucratic hurdles that continue to hinder safety initiatives.” The NSC added: “(Eliminating) the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace, roadway and impairment … (will) create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.”