A member of Congress who has advocated for efforts to grant truck drivers restroom access and overtime pay has announced that he will not seek re-election when his term ends in 2026.
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, announced the news through a statement issued on Nov. 29.
“After more than 30 years in law enforcement serving and protecting my community as a police officer, constable, Fort Bend County Sheriff, an Army veteran, and six years representing this district in Congress, I have made the decision, after conversations with my beautiful bride and my girls over the Thanksgiving holiday, to focus on my family and return home after this Congress,” Nehls said.
Nehls, who entered the U.S. House of Representatives in 2021, has been vocal on several issues involving the trucking industry.
Most notably, Nehls has led the effort to provide truck drivers access to restrooms when they are waiting at a shipper or receiver facility. Nehls first introduced the Trucker Bathroom Access Act in 2022 and has reintroduced the bill in subsequent Congressional sessions. The bill does not require businesses to construct new restrooms. Instead, it would only mandate that truck drivers be granted access if a business has a restroom available to their customers or employees.
Nehls not only introduced the bills, but he also used his position at House hearings to call out opponents.
“I just want to put on the record to all the lobbyists and trade associations that are trying to sink this bill, ‘I really don’t care what you think on this issue,’” Nehls said during a December 2023 hearing. “Just imagine if Congress banned lobbyists from using restrooms as you wait outside these committee rooms or offices. Imagine if you were told – all you lobbyists – ‘Go outside and find a tree. Hell, go find a fire hydrant. Go outside and relieve yourself, because we’re not going to let you do it in here.’ How long do you think that would last? What do we want to do, treat our truckers like cats and dogs?”
Nehls is also a co-sponsor of the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act. HR1962 would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require that company drivers receive overtime compensation when they work more than 40 hours in a week.
At separate House hearings, Nehls held up issues of Land Line Magazine, highlighting articles that support Pro-Trucker Priorities and oppose mandates for speed limiters and automatic emergency braking systems.
“Congressman Nehls has been a tireless advocate for truckers during his time in Congress,” OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh said. “OOIDA will miss his leadership with his retirement at the end of this term. The Congressman has taken an interest in issues, big and small, that are vitally important to truckers. He has championed the Trucker Bathroom Access Act, which would ensure that drivers simply have access to the restroom on the job, and he is one of the first Republicans in Congress to step up and support legislation that would guarantee overtime pay for truckers. We look forward to working with him throughout the rest of this Congress to advance these and other pro-trucker priorities.”
According to The Associated Press, Nehls is endorsing his twin brother, Trever Nehls, to take his seat in Congress. LL
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