Mr. Schweitzer regularly drafts legislation on issues affecting the transportation industry. In recent years he has accomplished the following legislative achievements:
When the U.S. Supreme Court issued an unfavorable ruling in Oklahoma Tax Com'n v. Jefferson Lines, Inc., 514 U.S. 175 (1995), Mr. Schweitzer drafted remedial legislation overturning that decision and limiting the ability of states to tax interstate transportation of passengers by bus. 49 U.S.C. §14505.
He was the primary drafter of legislation that preempted state laws imposing vicarious liability on automobile and truck lessors. That statute, 49 U.S.C. § 30106, prohibits states from imposing tort liability on vehicle lessors in the absence of a specific finding of negligence.
Mr. Schweitzer also drafted a statutory provision to exempt drivers of utility service vehicles from federal and state hours of service regulations. Sec. 4132 of SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L. No. 109-59, amending section 345 of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 (49 U.S.C. § 31136 note).
He has drafted bills to fund $600 million in security upgrades for the intercity bus industry, which were introduced in the 107th Congress as H.R. 3429 and S. 1739. Both bills made it out of committee.
He negotiated and drafted language to create a negotiated rulemaking on charter bus service regulations that was included in the Conference Report to SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L. No. 109-59.
He drafted funding legislation for essential bus service and intercity motorcoach passenger terminals. This legislation was considered by Congress in reauthorization of the highway and transit program in the 108th Congress.
Mr. Schweitzer drafted federal legislation that was enacted to require the Department of Transportation to establish a program to exempt light duty vehicles from the federal safety requirements. 49 U.S.C. § 31136(e)(2).
He has drafted legislative provisions to protect the intercity bus industry from anticompetitive actions by Amtrak in issuing bonds and seeking access to Highway Trust Fund accounts. He also negotiated the terms of these provisions with Amtrak representatives and Congressional staff.
He drafted and successfully lobbied for 15 separate provisions included in the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century on behalf of the intercity bus industry, including sections on motor carrier mergers, antitrust immunity, preemption of state regulation of bus rates and service, mandatory federal safety regulation for small commercial passenger vehicles, and state taxation of interstate passenger transportation.