Amendment would remove $2 million trucker insurance hike from highway bill

An Illinois lawmaker has introduced an amendment to a huge highway funding bill that would remove a provision to more than double current insurance liability requirements for commercial vehicle drivers.

Illinois Rep. Mike Bost recently introduced Bost Amendment 194 to a highway bill called the INVEST Act that became part of the $1.5 trillion Moving Forward Act proposed by House Democrats.

The Bost Amendment 194 would essentially remove an amendment introduced by Illinois Rep. Chuy Garcia earlier this month to increase current insurance liability requirements for commercial vehicle drivers from $750,000 to $2 million.

Garcia’s amendment has been heavily criticized by the trucking industry, who say that it could force smaller carriers to close down.

Garcia took to Twitter to explain that his amendment is intended to help crash victim’s families. “Minimum insurance requirements for motor carriers were established in 1980 & have never been adjusted for inflation. It’s inadequate and saddles families with crippling medical care costs resulting from catastrophic crashes,” Garcia wrote. “My amendment w/ @RepEspaillat, @RepCohen & @RepHankJohnson modestly increases the minimum insurance requirements & requires that it keep up w/inflation. This isn’t about trial lawyers or an attack on truckers. It’s about supporting families who have lost loved ones.”

Bost worked as a truck driver and manager at his family’s company Bost Truck Service for 13 years before entering politics.

The House Rules Committee is expected to meet this week to determine which amendments to the Moving Forward Act will go up for a vote.