H.R. 6884

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6884 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6884

To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a penalty for a 
freight broker that contracts with an unsafe carrier, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 18, 2025

Mr. Moolenaar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a penalty for a 
freight broker that contracts with an unsafe carrier, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Patrick and Barbara Kowalski Freight 
Brokers Safety Act''.

SEC. 2. PENALTY FOR CONTRACTING WITH UNSAFE CARRIER.

(a) In General.--Chapter 149 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 14917. Penalty for contracting with unsafe carrier
``(a) In General.--Any broker under this part that contracts with 
any specified transportation company shall be liable to the United 
States for a civil penalty in an amount equal to 10 percent of the 
value of the contracted cargo for the entire contract of such broker 
with the specified transportation company.
``(b) Deposit in Highway Trust Fund.--The Secretary shall deposit 
any penalty collected under subsection (a) into the Highway Trust Fund.
``(c) Use of Funds.--The Secretary may use amounts deposited under 
subsection (b) without further appropriation for projects or 
infrastructure eligible under this title or title 23 that increase 
roadway safety.
``(d) Specified Transportation Company Defined.--In this section, 
the term `specified transportation company' means a person that 
transports cargo for compensation that, in the 5-year period ending on 
the date on which a broker contracts with the specified transportation 
company--
``(1) has been issued 3 or more Department of 
Transportation violations; or
``(2) employs a driver that has been issued 3 or more 
Department of Transportation violations.
``Sec. 14918. Investigations of certain crashes
``(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Administration may investigate a freight broker following a 
fatal crash by a company contracted by such freight broker.
``(b) Additional Safety Requirements.--Following an investigation 
conducted pursuant to subsection (a), the Administrator may establish 
additional operating requirements on a freight broker if the 
Administrator found in such investigation that the broker acted with 
egregious disregard for safety in contracting the company that was 
involved in such accident.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 149 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``14917. Penalty for contracting with unsafe carrier.
``14918. Investigations of certain crashes.''.
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