H.R. 8218

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8218 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8218

To increase the minimum levels of financial responsibility for 
transporting property, and to index future increases to changes in 
inflation relating to medical care.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 9, 2026

Mr. Garcia of Illinois (for himself, Mr. Tran, Mr. Huffman, Mr. 
Garamendi, Mr. Cohen, and Mr. Johnson of Georgia) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To increase the minimum levels of financial responsibility for 
transporting property, and to index future increases to changes in 
inflation relating to medical care.

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 ``Fair Compensation for Truck Crash 
Victims Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:
(1) In passing the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, Public Law 
96-296, Congress intended for the minimum insurance levels to 
maintain safety. According to the House Report No. 96-1069, 
``the action of the Committee in increasing financial 
responsibility is to encourage the carriers to engage in 
practices and procedures that will enhance the safety of their 
equipment so as to afford the best protection to the public.''.
(2) The National Transportation Policy Study Commission 
(which consisted of six Members of the Senate, six Members of 
the House of Representatives, and seven public members 
appointed by the President) recommended mandatory minimum 
insurance requirements of $1,000,000, in its 1979 Final Report 
to the Congress, National Transportation Policies through the 
Year 2000. The Report stated: ``As an example, all certificated 
motor carriers operating upon the highways should be obligated 
to carry adequate insurance (or proof of financial 
responsibility equal to such insurance) to protect the public. 
The insurance should cover public liability, property, damage, 
cargo and environmental restoration with a $1 million for 
single occurrence, or another minimum amount sufficient to 
require periodic `on site' inspection by the insurance company, 
with the minimum to be updated regularly. Non-certificated 
motor carriers should be subject to similar standards.''.
(3) According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 
amount of $750,000, set in 1980 (the year of enactment), would 
have the same purchasing power as $5,193,665.62 in 2020, if the 
amount was raised to account for medical-cost inflation.
(4) That same amount of $750,000 would have the same 
purchasing power as $5,811,083 in 2025, if the amount was 
raised to account for medical-cost inflation.

SEC. 3. MINIMUM FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRANSPORTING PROPERTY.

(a) In General.--Section 31139(b) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$750,000'' and 
inserting ``$5,000,000''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Adjustment.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics, shall adjust the minimum level of financial 
responsibility under paragraph (2) quinquennially for inflation 
relating to medical care.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act.
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