OOIDA Call to Action – All Members
June 15, 2006

After working closely with OOIDA staff, U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan from western Missouri late last week introduced HR5560, “The Professional Drivers Background Check Efficiency Act of 2006.”

This legislation would:

**Cap the fees for getting a hazmat endorsement (HME) at no more than $50.

**Establish that if you have an HME, you will not need an additional background check nor will you be forced to pay another fee for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card.

**Require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress on background check redundancy across all government agencies that require truckers to have background checks completed.

This bill will not only cut HME fees by roughly half, it will force the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to put together a much more efficient background check process than what currently exists and it will influence how future background checks are designed by the TSA.

Rep. Carnahan, D-MO, is the original sponsor of this bill, but any member of the U.S. House of Representatives can sign on as a cosponsor of the legislation. Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-MI, Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-OH, and Rep. Ike Skelton, D-MO, have already signed on as cosponsors.

We are asking that you call your U.S. Representative to ask him or her to support Rep. Carnahan’s legislation by signing on as a cosponsor to the bill.

Why? It’s simple, the more lawmakers that sign on as cosponsors of a bill, the more likely that bill will move towards passage.

The TSA needs to be reined in with some common sense, the “Professional Drivers Background Check Efficiency Act of 2006” will do just that.

The BILL – HR 5560 – “Professional Drivers Background Check Efficiency Act of 2006'”

SAMPLE PHONE MESSAGE:

“I am from (your town, your state). I am calling to ask Representative ___________ to sign on as a cosponsor of HR5560, ‘The Professional Drivers Background Check Efficiency Act of 2006.’ HR5560 is a bipartisan bill that will make government-mandated background checks for truckers more efficient while reducing time and money burdens on hardworking Americans.”

If you are not sure who your lawmakers are, simply phone the OOIDA Membership Department and they'll look up the information for you. The toll-free number is 1-800-444-5791.

You can also call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, provide the operator with your ZIP code and they will connect you to your Representative’s office.

If you know who your Representative is but do not have contact their information, you can visit www.congress.org or www.house.gov.

If you have questions, do not hesitate to call the Association at 1-800-444-5791.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE CAPITOL HILL TAKE NOTICE.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR TRUCKERS THROUGHOUT AMERICA.