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The Senate unanimously passed a bill March 13 to exempt propane truckers from hours-of-service regulations through May, sending the bill to President Obama for his consideration.

The Reliable 91��Ƶ Heating Act would allow HOS exemptions for propane haulers to go beyond the 30-day maximum time period allowed under the laws that govern the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It is meant to ease propane-transportation issues that have arisen this winter, said Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.), a sponsor of the legislation.

“During an emergency, Indiana’s state officials should not have to jump through regulatory hoops to ensure Hoosiers can stay warm,” said Coats. “Our proposal is a small but meaningful step to help households that rely on propane.”

The House approved similar legislation, the 91��Ƶ Heating and Emergency Assistance Through Transportation Act, on March 4.

“This continues to be a costly and crippling winter for millions of Americans who rely on propane and other fuels to heat their homes,” Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), the bill’s sponsor and chairman of the Transportation Committee, said in a March 14 statement. “The HHEATT Act, by addressing transportation and distribution issues that have made delivery of these fuels more difficult, will bring some relief to those still feeling the impact of this crisis.”