NAPT Endorses “Brake for Kids” Act
By Peter Mannella
What’s the News
NAPT recently endorsed federal legislation that would require the US Department of Transportation to carry out a ‘national public safety messaging campaign relating to the dangers of illegal passing of stopped school buses.’
The legislation has been introduced by Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) along with Representative Pete Strauber (R-MN) as the “BRAKE FOR KIDS ACT of 2025.”
Commentary
NAPT is heartened by the recent federal and Congressional interest in school bus safety and welcomes this call for a national effort to combat illegal passing. We are also endorsing adoption of a nationally standard definition of ‘illegal passing’ to help increase awareness of the problem and of the need to stop for stopped school buses.
Call to Action
We encourage our members to reach out to their respective US Senators and their Congressional Representatives to share their support for the legislation. Members should feel free to use the text of our letter in those outreach efforts and should work cooperatively with their state associations.
NAPT Comments to FMCSA on Non-Domiciled CDLs
NAPT recently submitted comments related to the Interim Final Rule from FMCSA related to Non-Domiciled CDL holders.
To explain, non-domiciled CDLs are designed for individuals who do not have a permanent residence in the US but need a CDL to operate commercial vehicles within the country. They are often sought by temporary workers, including those on specific work visas.
In response to several fatal accidents, FMCSA has focused in recent months on the risks associated with non-domiciled CDL holders who may have been processed inappropriately by State licensing agencies. The interim rule was issued with the intent of ‘restoring integrity to the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs’ and to ensure against such incidents.
NAPT has commented that it is important:
• for FMCSA to take all reasonable steps to make sure that CDL holders are properly licensed and prepared to drive on our roadways;
• that FMCSA move expeditiously to establish any new criteria and monitoring procedures so that state licensing agencies can once again begin to process applicants;
• that FMCSA should clarify and provide guidelines for the use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) which enables states to ensure the immigration status of applicants for CDLs.
Additional information will be made available on this specific issue of non-domiciled CDLs as well as other steps that the administration is taking or proposing to ensure safety on our roadways.
Dismantling of the Education Department Underway
At the beginning of his term of office in January, President Trump announced that he and his Secretary of Education (Linda McMahon) would begin taking steps to close down the Department of Education.
In recent weeks, the Department has announced that it has entered into agreements with other federal agencies that would assume specific responsibilities of the Department. For instance, many of the Title I programs will be administered by the US Department of Labor as described in a departmental fact sheet.
There has been no clear decision made on whether and how IDEA activities will be transferred although there have been numerous suggestions that those activities will be carried out by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
See a recent analysis prepared by AASA (the superintendents’ association) regarding these moves at the Department. We are tracking these developments for implication on transportation services and will keep you apprised as things progress.
Activities of Concern at the State Level
NAPT is watching activities at the state level where several initiatives are underway that would considerably change the way schools are funded and could have direct impact on the delivery of pupil transportation services (e.g., Ohio and Texas). In other states, (e.g., New York mandates to convert school bus fleets to all-electric are vehicles weighing heavily on school districts and private contractors alike.
As the federal Department of Education is phased down or abolished entirely, and more control over education is transferred to the states, it will become vital for us to monitor state trends and directions. Clearly, that is where more of the action will be!
This presents a potential new area of engagement for our association and one in which we are stepping carefully. We will attempt to create an inventory of issues arising in the states that affect our members. Our focus will include funding and reimbursement changes, restrictions on use of funds, expanded service mandates, changes in special education rules, reductions or enhancements in driver qualifications, among others.