House Committee to Consider Sleep Apnea Bill

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will consider a bill Sept. 19 that would prevent the federal government from issuing regulatory guidance recommending that truck drivers be screened and treated for sleep apnea.

The bill, introduced Sept. 12 by Reps. Larry Buschon (R-Ind.) and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), would require that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration only use the formal rulemaking process for a sleep apnea screening and treatment mandate. The rulemaking process includes study, cost-benefit analysis and formal public input.

The House T&I committee, chaired by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), announced Sept. 13 that it scheduled debate and consideration of the bill for the morning of Sept. 19. Passing it would send it to the full House for a vote.

American Trucking Associations and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers association support the measure.