Lexington Institute Vice President Daniel Goure said in a blog post the Jones Act provides an important barrier to terrorist infiltration of the U.S. homeland. READ MORE

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics has released its Transportation Statistics Annual Report (TSAR) 2015, the 20th edition of a congressionally mandated compilation that presents key transportation indicators along with an overview of the transportation system. READ MORE

The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued an advisory to alert shippers of recent actions taken by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to enhance the safe transportation of lithium batteries by air. READ MORE

Norfolk Southern (NS) Chief Executive Jim Squires disclosed in a letter to employees this week that May 12 will be the date for the company’s annual meeting, an event that will be held in Williamsburg, Virginia. The disclosure means that a date certain has now been set for NS shareholders to get a chance to vote on whether they want their railroad to hold “good faith” merger talks with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). READ MORE

This week the League joined three dozen other organizations to express our concerns to the Senate about one provision of the pending reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Section 2317 of S. 2658, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016, is titled “Safe Air Transportation of Lithium Batteries on Passenger Aircraft.” If adopted by Congress, that provision would direct the Department of Transportation to shape its lithium battery transport rules in a manner that is out of step with international rules. READ MORE

The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has finalized rule changes applicable to the safe return shipment of hazardous materials from a retail outlet back to a distribution or reclamation facility via highway transportation. READ MORE

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said it will officially launch on May 3 the Supply Chain Innovation Team Initiative it authorized in a vote taken earlier this year. READ MORE

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Mario Cordero told a California maritime audience there is a need to increase the number of women and minorities in the American waterborne shipping business so that the industry mirrors the country it serves. READ MORE

The long-awaited and much anticipated official inauguration day for the historic expansion of the Panama Canal has been set for Sunday, June 26. READ MORE

The American Trucking Associations reported that its Truck Tonnage Index jumped 7.2 percent in February, following a 0.3 percent reduction during January. February’s index level is an all-time high. READ MORE