Section 3 · The General Welfare
🛤️Ch. 19 — Department of Transportation
DOT · 12 tracked
Abolish DOT discretionary grantmaking; send formula funds to states
Proposed
Mandate argues DOT discretionary grants should be abolished (or at least consolidated), with funding focused on formula distributions so states choose modes, reducing Washington project selection.
Restore Trump DOT “rule on rules” guidance/enforcement reforms (RIN 2105-AE84)
Proposed
Mandate says Biden unwisely abandoned late-2019 administrative rulemaking/guidance/enforcement procedures and the next Administration should revive them without delay.
Harden Build America Bureau underwriting; study private-finance disintermediation
Proposed
Mandate would require investment-grade ratings, sponsor repayment guarantees, positive economic value tests, interest-rate stress, and regular cost-benefit analysis of whether BAB loans displace private lenders.
Advance AV performance rules; reverse compulsory AV crash-data order; fight for 5.9 GHz
Proposed
Mandate pushes NHTSA/FMCSA to update AV standards, align with AV 3.0 to allow driverless CMV operations, reverse Standing General Order compulsory data approach toward voluntary sharing, and advocate restoring ITS spectrum.
Reset CAFE toward MY2020 statutory levels; prioritize NHTSA over EPA; revoke California waiver
Proposed
Mandate would lower fuel-economy standards toward the statutory MY2020 fleetwide ~35 mpg aim, ensure EPA CO2 rules do not override NHTSA, and revoke California’s Clean Air Act waiver used for ZEV mandates.
Refocus FHWA on highways; end equity/climate/Vision Zero “guidance memo” constraints
Proposed
Mandate criticizes FHWA funding of trails/bike/sidewalks, equity/climate obligations, Vision Zero congestion tactics, and guidance limiting highway capacity expansion in growing states.
Restore Trump unfair/deceptive aviation rule process; reform/end EAS; ease foreign ownership
Proposed
Mandate would restore Trump UDP rulemaking process, support smaller-carrier joint ventures, review foreign ownership limits via CFIUS-friendly capital, create 12-month new-entrant decisions, reallocate slots for competition, reform 1,500-hour rules, and end Essential Air Service subsidies.
Separate ATO from FAA; shift to user fees and revenue bonds
Proposed
Mandate’s FAA reform package separates air traffic organization from FAA (or FAA from DOT), moves from appropriations/taxes to direct user fees, allows ATO revenue bonds, and accelerates remote towers/DataComm.
Tighten/end Capital Investment Grants; rewrite §13(c); stop Highway Trust Fund transit raids
Proposed
Mandate criticizes transit expansion funding amid ridership drops, wants rigorous CIG cost-benefit screens (Trump urged elimination), return to original §10(c)/13(c) intent allowing compensation cuts, and ending HTF transfers to transit.
Withdraw FRA two-person crew NPRM; modernize track/brake inspections with technology
Proposed
Mandate says FRA’s crew-size NPRM is not safety-based, and FRA should embrace technological track inspection and electronic brake-slip modernization instead of preserving status-quo job rules.
Move MARAD to DHS/DoD; repeal or substantially reform Jones Act
Proposed
Mandate argues MARAD should transfer to DHS (or DoD if Coast Guard moves) to align with USCG/FMC, and serious consideration should be given to repealing or substantially reforming the Jones Act, with Defense Reserve Fleet expansion if capacity fears arise.
Harden Open Skies reciprocity vs Russia overflight and China agreement compliance
Proposed
Mandate says so long as U.S. carriers cannot fly Russian airspace, foreign carriers to East/South Asia should not keep competitive advantages, and the U.S. should not offer China new talks until existing commitments are implemented.