PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.4441 / 106th Congress

Motor Carrier Fuel Cost Equity Act of 2000

Received in the Senate.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 11, 2000

Motor Carrier Fuel Cost Equity Act of 2000 - Amends the Federal transportation code to require any contract or agreement for truckload transportation or service regularly provided by a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder subject to the Secretary of Transportation and the Surface Transportation Board to include a requirement to assess a payor of transportation charges a minimum surcharge based on mileage or percentage of revenue for fuel used in the transportation provided to such payor. Requires such a surcharge whenever an increase in the price of such fuel surpasses the benchmark difference between the current fuel price and the fuel price norm, when such difference exceeds $0.05. Requires the surcharge to be the amount necessary to compensate the person responsible for paying for fuel for any increase in the price from the fuel price norm.Requires the surcharge to be: (1) calculated on the date the shipment is tendered to the motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder; (2) itemized separately on invoices; and (3) paid by the payor of transportation charges.Declares that this Act shall be enforceable only through the private right of action. Denies either the Secretary or the Board any regulatory or enforcement authority relating to this Act.Requires any motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder providing transportation or service using motor vehicles not owned by it and using fuel not paid for by it to pass any fuel surcharge through, with due notice in writing, to the person responsible for paying for fuel. Prohibits any reduction in compensatory transportation costs (other than the fuel surcharge) to the payor of fuel for the purpose of adjusting for or avoiding the pass through of the fuel surcharge.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3] · D–WV

Committees

  • Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
10 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Received in the Senate.

  2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9569-9570)

  4. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9569-9570)

  5. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4441.

  6. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9569-9573)

  7. Mr. Shuster moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 521.

  9. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 106-865.

  10. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 106-865.

  11. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  12. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  13. Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  14. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  15. Subcommittee Hearings Held.

  16. Referred to the Subcommittee on Ground Transportation.

  17. Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

  18. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E706)

  19. Introduced in House

  20. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4441 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4441 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4441 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4441 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources