National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Kevin Kester issued a  statement Tuesday in response to the introduction of the Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act in the U.S. Senate:

“The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the producers we represent are glad to see another bipartisan effort designed to provide much-needed relief for livestock haulers. The Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act requires the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to establish a working group to address the implementation of electronic logging devices and the overly-restrictive hours of service rules that livestock haulers face today. We look forward to continuing our work with members of Congress, industry groups, and the Department of Transportation as we work to find solutions to our current transportation concerns.”

The Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act was introduced in the Senate by Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) The bill would establish a working group at the Department of Transportation to identify obstacles facing livestock haulers and develop guidelines for regulatory or legislative action to improve livestock transportation. Enforcement of the electronic logging device rule would be delayed until the working group outcomes are formally proposed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

A full summary of the bill can be found here.

Source: http://www.beefusa.org/newsreleases1.aspx?newsid=6691