WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that includes a provision Congressman Andy Barr introduced that would transfer the licensing authority for the Valley View Ferry from federal operating licensing to a state-based operating license.
H.R. 4005, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, was passed by a bipartisan voice vote and contains Congressman Barr’s bill, H.R. 2570, the Valley View Ferry Preservation Act of 2013.
“In an uncommon display of bipartisanship, tonight the House came together to pass my commonsense, practical solution to provide relief from over-burdensome federal regulations which were threatening the continued operation of the Valley View Ferry,” said Congressman Barr. “The Valley View Ferry supports jobs and commerce in central Kentucky. I am glad that we are advancing this solution so we can end the threat of economic disruption and hardship for the merchants and workers who rely on the Valley View Ferry.”
Barr continued, “I appreciate the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s support for my provision and am grateful for Senator McConnell's support of the issue in the Senate.”
"This is a classic example of how Washington's one-size-fits-all approach to regulation doesn’t work,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster. "I appreciate Congressman Barr raising this issue, and the Committee was pleased to support his effort to address this over-burdensome licensing regulation."
“I commend Congressman Barr for his efforts on the House side to help our constituents,” said Senator Mitch McConnell. “As I told Vice Admiral Paul Zukunft of the U.S. Coast Guard, these requirements could have a significant negative impact on Kentuckians who rely on this ferry to commute daily between Lexington, Nicholasville and Richmond. ”
Background:
In June 2013, Congressman Barr introduced H.R. 2570, the Valley View Ferry Preservation Act of 2013, after meeting with local officials and learning of the hardship imposed by federal regulations.
In October 2013, Congressman Andy Barr spoke before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation about the stringent federal captain licensing requirements on the Valley View Ferry. He successfully encouraged them to support and advance his proposed legislation.
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