House, Senate bills would force sleep apnea rule

Legislation (S. 1883, H.R. 3882) introduced in both Houses of Congress on September 28 would require a final rule for the screening, testing, and treatment for sleep disorders of individuals operating commercial vehicles and trains within a year of the legislation's enactment. S. 1883 was introduced by Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), the senior Democrat on the Senate Commerce surface transportation subcommittee, and is co-sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-New York) and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Kristen Gillibrand (D-New York) and Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey). The identical House bill is sponsored by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-New Jersey) and co-sponsored by Reps. Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) and Albio Sires (D-New Jersey)

In August, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration withdrew their joint rulemaking effort on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among commercial vehicle drivers and rail workers. The action was expected as the rulemaking was among those the White House Office of Management and Budget listed among those that had been or would be withdrawn.