Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3055, the Transitioning Retiring and New Service Members to Port Ocean Rail and Truck Jobs Act; an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3423, the FROST Act; H.R. 3477, the Ensuring Airline Resiliency to Reduce Delays and Cancellations Act; an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 2591, the Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025; H.R. 3331, the Mariner Exam Modernization Act; an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3427, the Water Resources Technical Assistance Review Act; H.R. 3428, the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act; H.R. 3424, the Shared Property Agency Collaboration and Engagement Act of 2025; an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3425, the POST Act of 2025; H.R. 3426, the Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025; General Services Administration Capital Investment and Leasing Program Resolutions; and other matters cleared for consideration

2025-06-11

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Summary

This meeting of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure convened to consider various bills and amendments related to transportation, infrastructure, and federal property management. The session began with procedural announcements, including the authorization for the chairman to declare a recess and the electronic distribution of bill texts. Multiple pieces of legislation were on the agenda, such as the Transport Jobs Act, the Frost Act, the Ensuring Airline Resiliency Act, the Mental Health and Aviation Act, and several bills concerning water resources and federal real estate.

Themes

Veteran Employment in Transportation

The Transport Jobs Act (H.R. 3055) aims to connect veterans with jobs in the supply chain, including port, ocean, rail, and truck industries. Representative Barrett highlighted the challenge veterans face in finding meaningful employment despite their high training and mission-focused capabilities, citing high veteran unemployment rates in states like Michigan. The bill proposes a holistic approach by requiring collaboration among the Departments of Transportation, Labor, Defense, and Veterans Affairs to create a "Veteran to Supply Chain Employee Action Plan". This plan would identify barriers, such as issues with license transferability, and streamline processes to enhance recruitment and retention in the supply chain workforce. The legislation received bipartisan support, with members emphasizing its role in assisting those who served while strengthening the nation's supply chain.

Airport De-icing Storage

The FROST Act (H.R. 3423) addresses the storage of de-icing equipment and fluids at airports. Current regulations allow Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds to be used for purchasing de-icing equipment but not for constructing facilities to store it[ 00:27:12-00:27:21 ]

. The bill seeks to rectify this inconsistency, acknowledging that proper storage is crucial for maintaining safe and timely flight operations, especially given the increase in extreme weather due to climate change. Support for this bill was widespread, with members agreeing that if funds can be used for purchase, they should also cover storage[ 00:28:41-00:28:50 ] .

Airline Operational Resiliency

The Ensuring Airline Resiliency to Reduce Delays and Cancellations Act (H.R. 3477) aims to prevent or limit the impact of future mass flight disruptions[ 00:34:35 ]

. The legislation requires airlines to develop and regularly update operational resiliency strategies to address issues like severe weather, staffing models, and IT system failures[ 00:35:34 ] . This is in response to numerous schedule collapses that have left passengers stranded and incurred unexpected costs[ 00:35:09 ] . While many members supported the bill as a crucial step for consumer protection and safety, some expressed concern that it could lead to unnecessary private sector mandates and excessive FAA oversight.

Mental Health in Aviation

The Mental Health and Aviation Act (H.R. 2591) seeks to modernize the FAA's mental health policies and remove barriers to care for aviation professionals. Speakers highlighted that many in the aviation workforce suffer in silence due to fears that mental health diagnoses could jeopardize their careers. The bill mandates the FAA to implement recommendations from expert task groups, annually review policies, and fund the recruitment of aviation medical examiners with mental health expertise. It also calls for a public information campaign to destigmatize mental health issues in aviation. Despite broad bipartisan support, one member raised concerns about the safety implications of allowing individuals with potential mental health crises to remain in critical aviation roles[ 00:49:31-00:49:41 ]

Water Infrastructure Technical Assistance

The Water Resources Technical Assistance Review Act (H.R. 3427) mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of the EPA's Water Technical Assistance (Water TA) programs. The legislation aims to improve how these programs assist rural and tribal communities in accessing federal funding for water infrastructure, noting that many such communities struggle with complex application processes. The GAO study will identify how the EPA implements these programs and any unmet needs in economically distressed areas. While broadly supported for promoting effectiveness and accountability, an amendment was offered, and subsequently rejected, to remove a provision assessing unmet community needs, with the proposing member arguing the Water TA program itself is unnecessary.

Oversight of Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions

The Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions Review Act (H.R. 3428) directs the GAO to review the Susquehanna, Delaware, and Potomac River Basin Commissions. These commissions, established decades ago, operate with federal membership and receive federal funding[ 01:09:46 ]

. The bill seeks to ensure that these bodies are functioning properly, responsibly utilizing federal resources, and maintaining ethical practices, addressing concerns about potential mismanagement, ethical issues, and regulatory overreach. The GAO review will also examine their transparency, communication, and identify any duplicative responsibilities. An amendment to extend oversight to the Mississippi River Commission was introduced but withdrawn, with a commitment from the chairman for future cooperation.

Federal Real Estate Efficiency

Three bills focused on optimizing federal real estate management:

Space Act (H.R. 3424): Aims to identify opportunities for federal agencies to increase shared space arrangements to save taxpayer dollars. It directs the GSA to develop criteria for expanded co-location and identify barriers to such arrangements. This bill was widely supported as a fiscally responsible reform to make government work smarter.
POST Act (H.R. 3425): Focuses on strengthening oversight and accountability for contract security personnel at federal buildings. It mandates the Federal Protective Service (FPS) to establish a centralized database for covert test data on security performance, implement corrective training, and address its unreliable shift tracking system. This initiative addresses concerns about security vulnerabilities identified by the GAO.
Case Act (H.R. 3426): Seeks to limit the size of new courthouses by directing the GSA to build space only to accommodate courtroom sharing, rather than providing individual courtrooms for every judge. This bill codifies existing sharing policies for some judicial roles and proposes a ratio of two courtrooms for every three district judges. The goal is to protect taxpayers from overbuilding and ensure efficient use of federal property[ 01:29:39 ]

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Mariner Exam Modernization

The Mariner Exam Modernization Act (H.R. 3331) aims to update the United States merchant mariner exam to reflect modern technology and practices in the maritime industry. The bill mandates a continuous review of the exam to remove outdated questions and content, ensuring that credentialing reflects the current operational realities for mariners. While proponents emphasized the importance of high standards and up-to-date training for safety and industry success, some members voiced strong concerns that this modernization effort could inadvertently lead to a lowering of standards for the sake of increasing mariner numbers[ 01:42:48-01:43:16 ]

. An amendment to add a representative from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy to the working group was adopted[ 01:49:31-01:49:35 ] .

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting had a generally collaborative and respectful tone[ 01:57:09 ]

. Most bills were introduced with bipartisan co-sponsorship and received broad support, often with expressions of gratitude to committee leadership and colleagues. While there were instances of disagreement on specific bills, particularly regarding the Airline Resiliency Act and the Mariner Exam Modernization Act, the debate remained largely professional[ 00:49:31 ] . A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a heartfelt tribute to a departing staff director, Jack Ruddy, highlighting strong personal connections and appreciation for his dedication, expertise, and bipartisan approach[ 01:54:58-01:55:14 ] . This segment reinforced an underlying atmosphere of camaraderie and mutual respect among committee members and staff, despite policy differences.