Bill Introduced to Address Passport Backlog 
The Department of State Crisis Response Act of 2007 was introduced into the Senate on March 22, 2007 to enable the Department of State to respond to a critical shortage of passport processing personnel, and for other purposes. The bill (
S 966) amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to extend Department of State authority to employ civil service or Foreign Service annuitants through Oct. 1, 2010. The bill also eliminates the requirement that such authority be used to facilitate assignment to Afghanistan or Iraq or to fill positions vacated because of assignments to such countries.
President to Nominate Individual for FEMA Assistant Administrator (Grant Programs)
On June 26, the White House announced that the President intends to nominate W. Ross Ashley, III, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator (Grant Programs) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Ashley most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Children's Center, Inc. Prior to this, he served as Vice President of Government Services at ChoicePoint, Inc. Earlier in his career, he served as Founder and Executive Vice President of the Templar Corporation and served 20 years in the United States Air Force Reserves and National Guard. Ashley received his bachelor's degree from George Mason University and his master's degree from the Joint Military Intelligence College.
Request for Extension of ICR for Drug Offender's Driver's License Suspension Certification
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has forwarded the information collection request for Drug Offender's Driver's License Suspension Certification to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew an information collection request (ICR). A
Federal Register notice was previously published with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on April 12, 2007. Comments must be submitted by July 23, 2007. More details are available in the June 22, 2007
Federal Register.FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007 Passes
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007 (
HR 2881) was approved on June 28, 2007. The bill was made to amend title 49, U.S. Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, to improve aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for the national aviation system, and for other purposes. Two amendments to the bill were introduced and passed. The
first amendment that passed was an amendment to reopen contract talks between the FAA and the Naitonal Air Traffic Controllers Association. The amendment would put the 1998 controllers' contract back into force. If no agreement is reached within 45 days, the dispute would be sent to binding arbitration. The amendment directs that FAA controllers are to be given back pay but provides no funding for this purpose. Future disputes between FAA and one of its unions would be sent to binding arbitration in the event of an impasse. A
second amendment was also passed to change the definition of "express carrier" under the Railway Labor Act to allow the non-aviation portions of express carriers to be organized under the National Labor Relations Act (instead of the RLA).
DOC and DOJ FY'08 Spending Bill Approved
A $54.6 billion fiscal 2008 spending bill for the departments of Commerce and Justice, and for several key science agencies won the approval, 28-1, of the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 28. The panel also approved an amendment that would limit local law enforcement agencies’ access to federal data used to trace guns. More details are available in the June 28 Senate Appropriations Committee
press release.
NPRM on Documents Required by WHTI
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), as amended, provides that upon full implementation, U.S. citizens and certain classes of nonimmigrant aliens may enter the United States only with passports or such alternative documents as the Secretary of Homeland Security designates as satisfactorily establishing identity and citizenship. This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is the second phase of a joint Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DOS) plan, known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), to implement these new requirements. This NPRM proposes the specific documents that, as early as January 2008, and no sooner than 60 days from publication of the final rule, U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico will be required to present when entering the United States at sea and land ports-of-entry from Western Hemisphere countries. Written comments must be submitted on or before Aug. 27, 2007. View the
Federal Register notice for more details.
FMCSA Meetings Scheduled
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced several meetings scheduled for July:
Request for Extension of HVTIS and HVUT Information Collection
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) invites public comments about its intention to request the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) approval for renewal of an existing information collection on the
Heavy Vehicle Travel Information System (HVTIS), as well as
Certification of Enforcement of the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT). Comments must be submitted by Aug. 27, 2007. View the
Federal Register notices for more information:
HVTIS |
HVUT.
Withdrawal of Advanced NPRM on Security Requirements for Motor Carriers Transporting Hazardous Materials
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a withdrawal of an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the June 27
Federal Register. This withdrawal advises the public that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has assumed the lead role from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for rulemaking addressing the security of motor carrier shipments of hazardous materials under this docket. Accordingly, PHMSA is withdrawing the ANPRM issued under this docket and closing its rulemaking proceeding. This action is consistent with and supportive of the respective transportation security roles and responsibilities of the Department of Transportation and DHS as delineated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed Sept. 28, 2004, and of TSA and PHMSA as outlined in an Annex to that MOU signed Aug. 7, 2006. PHMSA will continue to consider alternatives for enhancing the safety of explosives stored during transportation under another rulemaking docket. PHMSA will consult and coordinate with TSA on hazardous materials transportation security issues in accordance with the PHMSA-TSA Annex.
National Teen Safe Driver Month
A resolution has passed designating the month of July 2007, as "National Teen Safe Driver Month". With the passage of this resolution, the Senate calls upon the members of federal, state, and local governments and interested organizations to commemorate the month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs; and to encourage the development of resources to provide affordable, accessible, and effective driver training for every teenage driver of the United States. The resolution can be
viewed online.
Request for Information: Training Certification for Drivers of Longer Combination Vehicles
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval and invites public comment on its proposal. Specifically, the FMCSA requests OMB’s approval to revise an ICR entitled, “Training Certification for Drivers of Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs).” This ICR is necessary due to the paperwork requirement to complete and maintain training certificates that drivers must present to prospective employers. These certificates serve as proof the drivers have successfully completed sufficient training to operate LCVs safely on our Nation’s highways. Motor carriers are required to maintain a copy of the training certification in each LCV driver’s qualification (DQ) file, which may be reviewed by federal or state enforcement officials. Comments must be received on or before Aug. 27, 2007. View the
Federal Register notice for more details.
Pedestrian Safety Education Grant Modifications
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an extension to the "Education and Enforcement in Focus State and Focus City Pedestrian Safety Efforts" grant as well as an increase in the award amount. NHTSA's objective with the grant is to implement comprehensive pedestrian safety programs that can be replicated nationwide. Proposals are due by July 31, 2007, and must address education and enforcement strategy as delineated in Focus State or Focus City plans for pedestrian safety, and must be supported by problem identification and/or crash data. The total award amount has been increased to $1,200,000 for a total of three awards.
View the grant information on Grants.gov.
MVAs Account for More Than 45 Percent of Registered Voters in 2006
On June 29, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) delivered to Congress its report on the Impact of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993. The NVRA report, which covers registration information from after the 2004 general election through the 2006 general election, and the corresponding data tables are
available online. The report was based on information provided by 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two territories, representing 2,978 out of a total 3,524 jurisdictions. Among the key findings of the NVRA report, was that motor vehicle agencies accounted for more than 45 percent of all registration applications received nationwide. More details are available in the
EAC press release.
Immigration Overhaul Takes a Seat Until After '08 Elections
After weeks of debate, supporters failed to get a majority on a crucial move requiring the support of 60 senators to advance the immigration overhaul bill to a final vote. The Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2007 (
S. 1639) was introduced to the Senate on June 18, 2007 and was designed to overhaul immigration policies and institute new border security measures, including an electronic verification system. It would allocate some green cards on a merit-based system based on certain criteria, including a high-demand occupation, proficiency in English and higher education degrees. Half of the green cards would be allocated based on family relations. It also would provide for a temporary guest worker program that would allow workers to remain in the U.S. for up to six years, provided that they return to their home country for a year after every two years they remain in the U.S.
Sept. 11 Commission Bills Ready for Conference
The Sept. 11 Commission bills to provide for the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission to fight the war on terror more effectively and to improve homeland security may soon be back in conference. Both the House and the Senate versions of the bill (
HR1 and
S4) contain the collective bargaining provision, which would eliminate a personnel system that allows Transportation Security Administration screeners to join unions but not to bargain over working conditions. The issue of allowing screeners collective bargaining resulted in a veto threat of the Senate version by the White House. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would renew attempts to gain unanimous consent for a conference of the bill. The House legislation will be used as a base bill.
DHS/DOT Oppose Funding Initiatives in Transportation Security Act
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) together opposed the funding initiatives set forth in the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007 (
HR 1401). Currently, DHS issues grants for rail, bus and trucking security through a grant program that is authorized in one lump sum. The House Homeland Security Committee has jurisdiction over the deparment's grant programs. Under the new proposal, DHS would conduct the security and risk assessments and establish the guidelines for the grants, and the DOT would administer the distribution. The administration said DOT should have a say in the grant process. HR 1401 was introduced on March 1 and referred to Senate committee on March 28, 2007.
Ride Into Primetime With AAMVA, CarTalk and PBS!
Interested? Want to know more? Contact AAMVA's
Jason D. King to learn how you and your jurisdiction can hitch a ride with NPR's "Click and Clack" into primetime. It costs you nothing, and provides you with a humorous way to communicate your messages to your customers.
Are You Helping Your Customers "Get it Together?"
If you are, great! But if not, AAMVA, through a Public Affairs and Consumer Education/Customer Service Delivery discipline (PACE/CSD) collaborative effort, has produced some turnkey materials to help you communicate to your customers recent and upcoming changes in your jurisdiction's driver's license administrative policies and procedures. This consumer awareness campaign features all the elements of a comprehensive integrated strategy including: news releases, speeches, community outreach, speeches, brochures, flyers, posters, billboards, opeds, print ads and its very own Web site--www.licenseinfo.org. Visit
http://www.aamva.org/GetItTogether.htm and help your customers "get it together" today, before they come unprepared to the driver's license office tomorrow! You will need an AAMVA username and password to access this information.
AAMVA Seeks Information on How Jurisdictions Handle CDL Holders Cited for BAC
Jurisdictions have differing processes for dealing with commercial drivers cited for having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .04 while driving a commercial motor vehicle. In the upcoming Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) Modernization project, AAMVA wants to ensure it accurately captures the data necessary for all jurisdiction requirements. To help with this effort,
please respond to the survey titled "Citation of CDL Holder for BAC > .04 in CMV."
Search Is on for Driver Fitness Director
AAMVA is actively seeking a qualified individual to fill the Director of Driver Fitness position within the Programs Division. This position is responsible for the development, coordination, monitoring and disseminating of information in the following areas: Younger Driver, Older Driver, Driver Fitness, Driver Improvement, Graduated Driver's License, and Financial Responsibility and Insurance. Additional responsibilities include serving as staff liaison to committees, subcommittees and working groups in these areas as well as serving as the staff liaison to the Financial Responsibility and Insurance (FR&I) discipline. A
job description and
submission guidelines are available on AAMVA's Web site. More details are also available in the
job advertisement.
MCSIA Training Information Now on AAMVA Web Site
MCSIA training information is now available on the AAMVA Web site. To access this information from AAMVA's Web site, click
Education & Training, and then select
MCSIA Training. The new MCSIA Training section allows you to view the training schedule, submit questions to the AAMVA training team, review course descriptions, and request information regarding the classes. To view this information, please visit
http://www.aamva.org/EducationTraining/MCSIATraining/.
SSA Delays Availability of SSOLV Verification Response Code Test Case
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has alerted AAMVA of unexpected issues associated with availability of a test case and must delay the planned July 9 availability date. Once all issues are resolved, SSA will establish a new test case availability date and AAMVA will issue a new announcement. Questions regarding Social Security Online Verification (SSOLV) testing should be directed to AAMVA’s Operations Department (
opsdept@aamva.org, 1-888-AAMVA80, Option 3).
NMVTIS Disaster Recovery Drill
On July 15, 2007, AAMVA will perform a second Disaster Recovery Drill for NMVTIS. Only online states will be affected. There will be a conference call to go over the details on July 11 at 1:00pm ET for NMVTIS production online states. If you are an online state unable to attend the conference call and need information, contact Susan Creighton at (703) 908-5893 or e-mail
screighton@aamva.org.
- Conference Number: (877) 358-8255
- Conference Pass Code: 4364792
Share Information With Other Jurisdictions
If you haven’t already done so, please respond to the following surveys.
Enhance Your Job Skills With FDR Instructor Certification
Take your training to a higher level; sign up today for the FDR Instructor Certification Course with AAMVA University. The course is to be held in Arlington, Virginia on Aug. 13-17, 2007. The registration
deadline is July 27 (prerequisite: FDR Level II Course). Additional courses will be added soon. AAMVA University can also provide training at your jurisdiction's facility. Visit
www.aamva-u.org for details or to register online, or call (866) 908-8270.
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