text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``True Understanding of the Economy 
  and Safety Act'' or the ``TRUE Safety Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds that--
              (1) the trucking industry is the backbone of the Nation's 
          economy, with nearly 7 million Americans working in trucking-
          related jobs, including more than 3 million commercial truck 
          drivers;
              (2) 80 percent of all communities in the United States 
          depend solely on trucks to deliver and supply their essential 
          everyday commodities;
              (3) Federal regulations governing the hours of service for 
          commercial truck drivers must be based on full and fair 
          scientific research, analysis, and operational testing;
              (4) the restart rule that became effective on July 1, 2013, 
          was based mainly on a one-month sleep study conducted in a 
          laboratory setting;
              (5) the new restart rule will cost the trucking industry up 
          to $376,000,000 annually, reducing productivity, impacting 
          driver pay, and increasing the cost to deliver goods; and
              (6) the restart rule should not have become effective prior 
          to completion of the thorough operational study required by 
          section 32301 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st 
          Century Act or MAP-21 (Public Law 112-141; 126 Stat. 786).
  
  SEC. 3. GAO ASSESSMENTS.
  
      (a) Assessment of Methodology for MAP-21 Restart Study.--
              (1) In general.--After completion of the field study and 
          submission of the report regarding such study by the 
          Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
          Administration, required by section 32301 of MAP-21, the 
          Comptroller General shall conduct an assessment of the 
          methodology followed by the Secretary of Transportation in 
          carrying out the efficacy of the restart rule published on 
          December 27, 2011.
              (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the assessment shall be to 
          assess the extent to which the methodology meets the 
          requirement of MAP-21 that--
                      (A) the data collected is representative of the 
                  drivers subject to the restart rule;
                      (B) the methodology is statistically valid; and
                      (C) the study followed the plan for the 
                  ``Scheduling and Fatigue Recovery Project'' developed 
                  by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
      (b) Assessment of Regulatory Impact Analysis.--
              (1) In general.--The Comptroller General shall conduct an 
          assessment of the Regulatory Impact Analysis that accompanied 
          the final rule published by the Department of Transportation in 
          the Federal Register on December 27, 2011, entitled ``Hours of 
          Service of Drivers'' (76 Fed. Reg. 81134).
              (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the GAO assessment shall be--
                      (A) to conduct an analysis of the methodology and 
                  data used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
                  Administration in its Regulatory Impact Analysis;
                      (B) to evaluate the validity and representativeness 
                  of the driver data used to evaluate the operational and 
                  economic impacts of the new 34-hour restart rule 
                  applicable to operators of commercial motor vehicles;
                      (C) to conduct an analysis of the data and 
                  methodology used to develop the proposed safety and 
                  health benefits of the new 34-hour restart rule 
                  applicable to operators of commercial motor vehicles;
                      (D) to review the safety, health, cost, and 
                  operational implications of the restart rule, and the 
                  potential impact of a greater number of commercial 
                  motor vehicles on major roads during ``morning 
                  commutes'' as a result of the restart rule; and
                      (E) review the research used in developing and 
                  justifying the new restart rule, particularly as it 
                  relates to the use of a laboratory test to justify the 
                  rule rather than an operational test in the field.
      (c) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
  this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a final report to the 
  appropriate committees of Congress on the assessments required under 
  subsections (a) and (b), including any recommendations.
  
  SEC. 4. DELAY IN APPLICATION OF RULE.
  
      (a) Delay in Application of Rule.--Effective as of the date of 
  enactment of this Act, the restart rule published by the Department of 
  Transportation in the Federal Register on December 27, 2011, shall have 
  no force or effect until 6 months after the study report required by 
  this Act has been submitted to Congress.
      (b) Application of Previous Rule Provision.--For the period 
  specified under subsection (a), the 34-hour restart rule issued on 
  April 28, 2003 (68 Fed. Reg. 22456), shall be in effect.
      (c) December 2011 Rule.--The Secretary shall not apply the rule 
  described in subsection (a) if the conclusions of the operational study 
  completed pursuant to MAP-21 do not support or concur with the 
  conclusions of the laboratory study on which the rule was based.
target: True Understanding of the Economy and Safety Act or TRUE Safety Act - Directs the Comptroller General (GAO), after the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports to Congress on an hours of service field study, to assess the methodology followed by the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) in carrying out the efficacy of the restart rule (&quot;Hours of Service of Drivers&quot;) published on December 27, 2011, which applies to operators of commercial motor vehicles of property subject to maximum DOT driving time requirements. Requires the assessment to evaluate the extent to which that methodology meets the requirements of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) that: (1) the data collected is representative of the drivers subject to the restart rule, (2) the methodology is statistically valid, and (3) the study followed the FMCSA plan for the &quot;Scheduling and Fatigue Recovery Project.&quot; Directs GAO to assess the Regulatory Impact Analysis that accompanied the final 2011 restart rule. Nullifies the 2011 restart rule until six months after the study report required by this Act has been submitted to Congress.  Prohibits the Secretary from applying the restart rule if the conclusions of the field study completed pursuant to MAP-21 do not support or concur with the conclusions of the laboratory study on which the rule was based.
feat_title: TRUE Safety Act