Senate Passes Sleep Apnea Bill

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would be blocked from implementing or enforcing any regulations on sleep disorders of commercial truck drivers that are not adopted in a rulemaking process under a Senate-passed bill that has been sent to President Obama for his signature, Bloomberg News reported.

The measure, H.R. 3095, was cleared by unanimous consent after the House passed it by a 405-0 vote Sept. 26, Bloomberg reported.

The measure is supported by the American Trucking Associations, which said a rule that could have compelled overweight or obese drivers to be tested for sleep apnea would cost the industry about $1 billion.

“We’re thrilled the House unanimously passed this important piece of legislation, and we hope the Senate will soon follow suit so we can ensure the issue of sleep apnea testing and treatment is resolved through the regular rulemaking rather than hastily issued guidance,” ATA President Bill Graves said following the House’s passage.