Jerry Moran: “I am surprised somewhat by the characterization. He and I characterize my amendment differently. It is my understanding…”

“I am surprised somewhat by the characterization. He and I characterize my amendment differently. It is my understanding that the hours of service exemption for agricultural commodities, including the ones that are described specifically in my amendment, have been in place for a long period of time and only in 2002 did confusion arise with the issuance of a guidance from the Department of Transportation in regard to the definition of agricultural commodities. Again, I would emphasize that this is designed to make clear that all agricultural commodities, not those that are just specifically named in the past, would be eligible. The crisis that an agricultural hauler, a trucker, has in getting agricultural commodities to market is the same regardless of which crop it is. I believe this amendment simply makes clear what has been the practice in the past and also makes certain that this rule-making authority is not utilized to eliminate the exemption in the future.”