Skip to main content

B-197921 L/M, JUN 2, 1980

B-197921 L/M Jun 02, 1980
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

WAS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON MAY 22. WE ARE OFFERING THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IF SUCH AN AMENDMENT IS OFFERED. THE COMMISSION IS THE LOGICAL AGENCY TO CONDUCT THE STUDY BECAUSE IT ALREADY COLLECTS AND ANALYZES MUCH OF THE STATISTICAL DATA ON SHIPPER COMPLAINTS AND CARRIER SERVICE WHICH WOULD BE NEEDED. THE COMMISSION WOULD NEED TO CONDUCT SIMILAR RESEARCH IN ANY CASE IF DEREGULATION LEGISLATION IS PASSED. WE HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF STAFF WITH THE SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES NEEDED TO PERFORM A STUDY OF THIS NATURE. THESE STAFF ARE ALREADY ASSIGNED TO OTHER IMPORTANT WORK. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT DIVERTING THE STAFF NEEDED TO PERFORM THIS STUDY WOULD HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR OTHER WORK.

View Decision

B-197921 L/M, JUN 2, 1980

PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE

HAROLD T. JOHNSON, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

WE NOTE THAT HOUSE BILL 6418, THE MOTOR CARRIER ACT OF 1980, WAS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON MAY 22, 1980. SECTION 28 OF THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION TO MAKE A STUDY OF MOTOR CARRIER SERVICE TO SMALL COMMUNITIES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT AN AMENDMENT TO H.R. 6418 MAY BE OFFERED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, WHICH WOULD DIRECT THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL TO CONDUCT THIS STUDY INSTEAD OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION. WE ARE OFFERING THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IF SUCH AN AMENDMENT IS OFFERED.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE PRESENT LANGUAGE OF THE BILL, DIRECTING THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION TO CONDUCT THE STUDY, SHOULD BE RETAINED. THE COMMISSION IS THE LOGICAL AGENCY TO CONDUCT THE STUDY BECAUSE IT ALREADY COLLECTS AND ANALYZES MUCH OF THE STATISTICAL DATA ON SHIPPER COMPLAINTS AND CARRIER SERVICE WHICH WOULD BE NEEDED. THE COMMISSION WOULD NEED TO CONDUCT SIMILAR RESEARCH IN ANY CASE IF DEREGULATION LEGISLATION IS PASSED, IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PROTECTING SHIPPER INTERESTS.

IN CONTRAST, WE HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF STAFF WITH THE SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES NEEDED TO PERFORM A STUDY OF THIS NATURE, AND THESE STAFF ARE ALREADY ASSIGNED TO OTHER IMPORTANT WORK. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT DIVERTING THE STAFF NEEDED TO PERFORM THIS STUDY WOULD HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR OTHER WORK, AND PRESENT MAJOR PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES. WOULD NEED EXTENSIVE TIME TO PLAN, ORGANIZE AND CONDUCT A STUDY OF THIS MAGNITUDE, AND WOULD HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN MEETING THE SEPTEMBER 1, 1981 DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION OF THE STUDY.

IN SUMMARY, WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE TO DIRECT THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION TO CONDUCT THE STUDY. WE WOULD BE PLEASED TO ASSIST THE COMMITTEE IN MONITORING AND ASSESSING THE PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF THE STUDY, AND WILL PROVIDE SUCH ASSISTANCE AT YOUR REQUEST. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ARRANGEMENT WOULD MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE EXPERTISE AND STATISTICAL RESOURCES OF THE COMMISSION, AND OUR AUDITING AND EVALUATION CAPABILITIES.

WE APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE'S CONCERNS ABOUT SERVICE TO SMALL COMMUNITIES AS IDENTIFIED IN H.R. 6418, AND HOPE THAT THE PRECEDING RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE HELPFUL TO YOU. WE ARE SENDING COPIES OF THIS LETTER TO THE COMMITTEE'S RANKING MINORITY MEMBER, AND TO THE CHAIRMAN AND RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE'S SUBCOMMITTEE ON SURFACE TRANSPORTATION.

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs