U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) issued the following statement regarding the rallies being held this week by America’s truck drivers over burdensome regulations: 

“This week, hardworking American truck drivers will be rallying in Washington DC and across the country for relief from burdensome federal regulations such as the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate and inflexible, one-size-fits-all Hours of Service (HOS) rules.  I welcome them to our Nation’s Capitol and look forward to them making their voices heard to Members of Congress and Administration officials in the same positive, constructive and civil manner as they did last October.  I can report that both the Administration and the leadership in Congress are now engaged in serious, good-faith negotiations on regulatory and legislative reforms to address the deep flaws in the current HOS rules – including my recently introduced REST Act (H.R. 5417).

However, as these discussions continue, I would again strongly urge FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez to implement a waiver of at least 90 days for all sectors of the trucking industry from the ELD mandate as we advance these and other critical reforms.  Similar waivers have already been granted to select industries, but I believe that all American truckers deserve the same relief as we work towards a solution.”