Bus Regulatory Modernization and Improvement Act of 1980
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
Bus Regulatory Modernization and Improvement Act of 1980 - Amends the Interstate Commerce Act to promote and maintain a sound privately owned motor bus system in the United States. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission to consider the need for specified revenue levels in the exercise of its ratemaking powers as regards common carriers of passengers by motor vehicle. Prohibits the Commission from finding any fare or rate for the transportation of passengers to be unreasonable on the basis that it is too high or too low if it is within a specified standard fare range. Authorizes the Commission to suspend interstate passenger fares and express rates under specified conditions. Directs the Commission to adjust such rates and charges periodically. Directs that such findings, suspensions, or adjustments shall not apply to excursion, special, or charter fares. Authorizes a motor common carrier of passengers to enter into a rate agreement with one or more other carriers. Directs the Commission to approve such agreement subject to specified criteria. Sets forth requirements with which an organization established or continued under such agreement must comply. Grants the Commission exclusive authority to prescribe an intrastate rate for transportation provided by a rail carrier or motor carrier of passengers (formerly rail only). Makes conforming amendments to specified Acts as regards the issuance of securities by motor carriers of property. Sets forth procedures for a consolidation, merger, or an acquisition of control involving a motor carrier of passengers. Expands the scope of certificates authorizing the transportation of passengers in charter or special operations. Directs the Commission, under specified conditions, to issue a certificate to a person authorizing that person to provide transportation as a motor common carrier of passengers. Directs that such certificates issued to persons not holding authority from the Commission shall be for a maximum of three years. Prohibits a motor carrier of passengers from: (1) engaging in interstate or foreign commerce; or (2) receiving a certificate or permit unless such carrier has filed a surety bond or certificate of insurance with the Commission. Sets forth requirements to be met by publicly owned or government owned motor carriers of passengers which apply for such certificate or permit for special or charter operations. Prohibits a carrier from protesting an application for such certificate or permit unless it has met specified conditions. Prohibits a State, political subdivision thereof, or an interstate agency from enacting any law, rule, regulation, or other provision relating to the discontinuance of regular-route service by a motor common carrier of passengers. Directs the Commission to promulgate rules for the discontinuance of essential intrastate and interstate regular route service by such carriers. Specifies criteria for such rules and sets forth procedures for the investigation of proposed discontinuance of service. Directs the Commission to take final action within 90 days on an application by a motor carrier of passengers for temporary authority to provide certain transportation. Directs that proceedings begun by the Commission under this Act shall be dismissed automatically unless they are concluded with administrative finality within three years after they were initiated.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on June 26, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on June 26, 1980: Referred to House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
HENRY NOWAK (D-NY) introduced it on June 26, 1980. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on June 26, 1980, 16877 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16877 days ago, on June 26, 1980.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers