Weekly Transportation Newsletter

— Congress is running out of time to meet its legislative agenda, and the Senate is still to consider several transportation-related items. — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told labor groups that the department has no plan to privatize Amtrak. — Watch out for potential floor action this week on the Senate's version of a bipartisan effort to crack down on China-tied cars that can connect to the internet.

— The Republican sponsor of a bill that would crack down on noncitizen truck drivers says some GOP lawmakers don't support it and it lacks the votes to pass on the floor. — Automakers pressed President Donald Trump to maintain the ban on vehicles from China ahead of his meeting with President Xi Jinping. — A key GOP senator says the goal is to release the upper chamber's transit title for the surface reauthorization before year's end.

— The backlash against license plate-reading cameras like Flock could become a sticking point as Congress works to pass the surface reauthorization. — The NTSB started its investigation of the Prime Air plane crash in Miami International Airport. — The Trump administration is investigating Tesla over its rollout of self-driving Cybercabs. IT'S TUESDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. We hope you had a good holiday weekend.

— Time is running out to pass a full surface transportation bill before year's end. The first step: An anticipated House vote on an extension this week. — An elusive deal on an air safety package will be front and center on Capitol Hill this fall. — The Trump administration isn't giving up the fight over freezing Gateway funding The Justice Department has appealed a federal judge's June decision in the rail tunnel case.

— Congress doesn't have much time left before August's recess. And the end of the fiscal year is just around the corner. A surface extension is looking more and more inevitable. — How much has PHMSA spent on its hazardous materials mascot? — Republican House appropriators want federal highway officials to study the financial impact of New York's congestion pricing program on suburban commuters who drive.

— If there's a shutdown in the cards this fall, Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz says he will push to exempt essential aviation workers from fallout. Appropriators might not go along. — International intrigue is surrounding a key component of the FAA's air traffic control modernization effort. — Regulators are predicting a potential surge in commercial space launches and reentries. IT'S MONDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves.

— The chair of the House Transportation Committee says he doesn't know if his panel will be tapped to play a role in reconciliation 3.0. — An ongoing pay issue for air traffic controllers is on the radar of the Senate aviation subcommittee's top Democrat. — Here's what Republican appropriators in the House are eyeing for the FAA's Common Automation Platform project. IT'S MONDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. We're glad you're here.

— Two board members of the nonprofit that paid for DOT chief Sean Duffy’s road trip worked for him when he served in the House. We have the latest on the controversial video series. — A key lawmaker suggested that it’s slow going for Congress’ air safety debate. — The House Appropriations Committee is set to mark up its fiscal 2027 DHS spending bill. Here’s what we will be watching for. IT’S MONDAY: You’re reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves.

— We take a look at the prospects for the surface bill, including potential roadbumps in both the House and Senate. — Travel advocates are alarmed at DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s threats to shut down international flights, specifically to Newark, amid immigration protests in that city. — House appropriators are set to mark up DOT’s annual spending bill this week. We get you ready for what to expect.

— We take a closer look at the House GOP’s Transportation-HUD spending bill, which has many noteworthy restrictions on how the money can be spent. — FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford says the agency will conduct a safety risk assessment for air traffic control consolidation. — The FAA has debuted a new website to track the agency’s modernization of the infrastructure and technology that underpin the national airspace.