The e-Gov/Mil newsletter is IAM’s twice-per-month summary of Department of Defense and Federal Agency news and notes related to, or impacting, government personal property shipping programs.

U.S. Senate Advances Legislation to Protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Last month, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation, S. 758, The Moving Americans Privacy Act, which would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to remove personally identifiable information (PII), which includes Social Security and passport numbers, from cargo manifests before public disclosure. 

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These Soldiers Say Mold in Barracks Isn't Just Disgusting, It's Making Them Sick

Difficulty breathing. Nose bleeds. Asthma. The Army has struggled with moldy conditions in its barracks for decades, with reports of infestations blanketing soldiers' rooms and possessions at some installations becoming a frequent topic in the media. But those conditions aren't just unsightly, they're seemingly having a serious impact on the health of America's front-line troops.

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Early Bird Rates Set to Fly Away

Don't forget! The Early Bird rate for the IAM Annual Meeting & Expo in Toronto, Canada, ends soon for Core and Value members. Register before May 12 to receive the discounted rate and reserve your hotel room through the IAM room block.

Learn more about the Annual Meeting

Are you interested in upgrading to Premier membership? Contact [email protected] to learn about the exclusive benefits.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Update for Federal Contractors

On May 1, the Biden Administration announced its plans to end certain Federal COVID-19 vaccination requirements, including those for Federal employees and Federal contractors, at the end of the day on May 11. In the coming days, President Biden will be issuing an Executive Order rescinding the vaccination requirement for Federal employees and COVID-19 safety protocols for Federal contractors, effective at 12:01 am on May 12, 2023.

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U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Moves Towards Rulemaking on Broker Transaction Records

Late last month, the FMCSA indicated in a response letter to an Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) petition, that the agency found merit to begin a rulemaking that may result in brokers being required to provide information to  motor carriers. The OOIDA request is that motor carriers provide an automatic electronic copy of transaction records, within 48 hours after delivery. 

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Soldiers and Other Visitors to Army Bases Could See Heavy Traffic at Gates Amid '100% ID Checks'

Army personnel and other visitors to Army bases nationwide could see increased traffic while getting through the gates between now and mid-June as the service checks all incoming IDs in an effort to study security guard staffing requirements. A release from Redstone Arsenal in Alabama on Wednesday warned of the possibility of heightened traffic because of an "Army-wide 100% ID check" project that was starting Friday and will last through May 12.

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USTRANSCOM First Peak Season Call (27 Apr); and Industry Call Later in the Afternoon

Attached are slides and notes from two calls held Thursday, 27 Apr.  The first was the TRANSCOM Peak Season Call (first of the year).  As usual, the slide Password is USTRANSCOM. (Slides | Notes)

The second was an afternoon industry “by-invite” call that is normally every other Thursday.  Slide password is also “USTRANSCOM.” (Slides | Notes)

Quick updates of interest included in the notes attachment:

• TRANSCOM/Services were asked whether there was something happening that was keeping shipment volume low. No one had insight. The overall feeling was that shipment volume would be similar as last year.
• TRANSCOM will continue to evaluate the need for Health Protection protocols. No update yet.
• The updated Non-Temp Storage tender of service modification that goes into effect 15 May has not yet been signed by 24% of the NTS providers. That has to happen by 15 May or those providers will be suspended.

U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Continues to Implement Regulations for Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA)

Regulations include additional guidance and steps for shipping entities to take when disputing charges

As part of ongoing efforts to implement required regulations connected to the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA), last month the FMC issued a rule requiring ocean carriers to refund importers and exporters for overcharges and other violations under OSRA. The recently issued final rule provides an overview of fines and penalty assessments, clarifying that carriers in violation of OSRA’s provisions may have additional civil penalties assessed.

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Portal Magazine

In every issue of the Portal, we invite our authors to share their experiences, success stories, learning experiences, and vision with others in the moving and forwarding industry. In addition to our regular columns, feature articles for each issue are united by a central theme.