On the recordMarch 13, 2012
Madam President, the Klobuchar-Roberts amendment would clarify the way the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration currently implements and enforces an exemption to hours of service rules as they apply to the agriculture industry during spring planting and fall harvesting. Our amendment reinforces existing law and brings the exemption back to the way it was implemented from 1995 to 2009. This is a commonsense change with broad support. It has the backing of the American Trucking Association as well as 50 agricultural organizations which includes the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union. I thank Senator Roberts for his leadership on this important issue, as well as Senators Nelson, McCaskill, Johanns, and Lugar for their strong support and cosponsorship. I ask my colleagues to vote for this amendment.
