House Passes Delgado-Backed Moving Forward Act

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) joined in voting to pass H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, comprehensive infrastructure legislation that includes a nearly $500 billion investment in American infrastructure to create jobs, support American manufacturing, and restore U.S. competitiveness. As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. Delgado voted to advance key elements of this legislation and championed provisions to address limo safety loopholes, increase funding for rural transportation and bus routes, and invest in rural broadband infrastructure.

"Today I proudly voted for the Moving Forward Act, which makes critically important investments in our nation's infrastructure and improves the safety of our roads and bridges H.R. 2 includes our bipartisan legislation to update vital safety regulations to take dangerous limos off the road, close safety loopholes, and keep drivers and pedestrians safe." Rep. Antonio Delgado, a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure continued, "On October 6, 2018, our community experienced a tragedy that never should have occurred. We owe it to the families and communities affected, including the first responders who rushed to the scene of the accident, to make this bill the law of the land."

"This legislation also includes necessary investments to improve transportation in rural communities. Specifically, H.R. 2 includes my legislation to expand rural bus routes and transportation investment in rural areas, a critical priority I've heard from small business owners and community leaders across the district," said Rep. Delgado. "I proudly cast my vote today to make long-overdue investments in modernizing broadband internet access across the country. The digital divide holds back our rural communities, our young people, small businesses, seniors and veterans who urgently need access to high-speed, affordable internet to remain competitive in the global economy."

The Moving Forward Act includes a number of Delgado priorities:

The Delgado-backed INVEST in America Act, a nearly $500 billion investment to rebuild and reimagine the nation's transportation infrastructure by fixing our crumbling roads and bridges, improving safety, reducing gridlock and putting the U.S. on a path toward zero emissions from the transportation sector by cutting carbon pollution, investing in public transit and the national rail network, building out fueling infrastructure for low-and zero-emission vehicles and deploying technology and innovative materials. The INVEST in America Act also includes Buy America provisions and labor protections.

Federal limousine safety reforms was introduced last year on the one-year anniversary of a tragic limousine crash in Schoharie, New York that took the lives of 20 people. Reps. Delgado and Tonko worked closely with families of these victims and as well as another group of families who lost loved ones in another limousine tragedy on Long Island. They introduced their resulting package of federal limousine safety reforms in Amsterdam, New York with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and with the support of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21).

1. End the Limo Loophole Act, sponsored by Rep. Delgado, a member of the House Committee on Transportation closes the "limousine loophole" by reclassifying vehicles used to carry nine or more passengers as commercial motor vehicles. Current law only classifies vehicles designed for 15 or more passengers in this way, allowing many limousines to operate under less rigorous standards.
2. Take Unsafe Limos Off the Road Act, a subcommittee chair in the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, promotes funding to support states' efforts to impound or immobilize vehicles that fail inspection for critical safety reasons. The act will incentivize states such as New York to take strong actions to keep unsafe limos that fail inspection off the road.
SAFE Limousines Act, includes a full slate of new federal stretch limousine safety rules and standards for seatbelts, seat integrity, a federal definition for limousines and crash safety research.
3. Legislation to increase 5311 Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program at the Federal Transit Administration by 50% for Fiscal Year 2021, with a $20 million increase per year until 2025. Rep. Delgado introduced the Rural Transportation Improvement Act, which includes a similar funding allotment. The bill will give rural communities the funding needed to expand bus routes, and make improvements to public transportation systems that increase accessibility and enable economic development. The Rural Areas Program provides capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000, where many residents often rely on public transit to reach their destinations. Eligible activities include planning, capital, operating, job access and reverse commute projects, and the acquisition of public transportation services.

Delivers affordable high-speed broadband Internet access to all parts of the country through the Delgado-backed Affordable, Accessible Internet for All Act which invests $100 billion to promote competition for broadband internet infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities, prioritizing those with persistent poverty. Gets children connected to remote learning, closes broadband adoption and digital skills gaps and enhances payment support for low-income households and the recently unemployed.

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