1 . Senate adjourns through Labor Day without a deal
CNBC | August 14, 2020 | by Alicia Adamcyk
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The Senate is officially adjourned through Labor Day despite not coming to an agreement on its next coronavirus stimulus package.
Congress and the White House have spent the past few weeks debating what to include in the package, but have been unable to come to an agreement. One of the biggest sticking points: Jobless benefits. Democrats want a continuation of the enhanced unemployment payment of $600 per week, while Republicans say that amount is too high. Democrats are also pushing for more than $900 billion for state and municipal aid, and $60 billion in food assistance, far higher than what Republicans have proposed.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the two sides would not strike a deal until Republicans added $1 trillion in aid to their bill.
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2 . Congress is home, keep the pressure on for the CERTS Act |
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3. Flash Survey | Rate your social media savvy |
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UMA surveyed Members about their social media savvy back in May. We want to follow up and see how you're doing now that UMA is providing the Social Media Tool Kit.
Please take 20 seconds and complete a one-question survey online. Thank you in advance.
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4 . COVID-19 could keep oil prices down through 2021 |
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World oil demand might not return to 2019 levels until the end of 2021, which could create opportunities for the U.S. freight industry as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers on during a year like no other.
“Coming into the year, we thought things were going to be very different,” Laura Speake, Caterpillar’s chief economist for energy and transportation, said during her keynote address at FTR Engage, a virtual speaking series from FTR Transportation Intelligence on Aug. 13. While economists like Speake expected slower gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2020 than in recent years, they were not expecting a U.S.-led or global recession. “The economy was moving to a slower growth pattern, but it was still expected to grow as we went from ’19 into ’20.”
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5. WMATA reports bus and subway ridership close to pre-pandemic levels in Washington, DC metro area
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April 13, 2020 — More trains, more stations, more buses, more hours. Metro is finalizing plans to restore most rail and bus service to pre-Covid levels across the region in the largest – and likely most complex – service change in the system's 44-year history. To support the effort, thousands of frontline Metro employees will transition to new work schedules as the region continues its gradual recovery and more customers are expected.
"Thanks to our congressional delegation, CARES federal funding makes it possible for us to restore service in support of economic recovery for the national capital region," said General Manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. "As they return, we want our customers to know that facial coverings are required everywhere on the system, and the more frequent trains and buses we are adding will help you ride socially distant."
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6 . SBA webinar will explain resources to help woman-owned small businesses
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The United States Department of Transportation's (DOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) invites you to participate at the Department's Woman-Owned Small Business Resources Webinar to be held on Friday, August 28th.
The webinar will start promptly at 2:00 pm EDT. This event is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to inform women-owned small businesses about the tools available at these three cabinet-level agencies.
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7. UMA Member Cardinal Transportation is working to get co-sponsors and using our social tools
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UMA Membership is FREE through 12/31/2020 |
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Because our industry is stronger together, we invite operators to try UMA Membership FREE through year's end. Join us.
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8. Baron's Bus sees UV light as 'best way' to disinfect coaches
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The Cleveland-based Barons Bus is the first U.S. motorcoach operator to install FAR UV Lighting in its vehicles.
“We have the ability to continuously disinfect while the bus is going down the road. That’s very different from the sprays and everything else, just because you have to wait until people get off so you can respray versus this light has the ability to continuously disinfect as the bus traveling down the road,” Barons Vice President Patrick Goebel said. “It’s also safe for human skin and human eyes, which is different from the other UV lighting, as well. So that’s really what caught our attention.”
The lighting is a groundbreaking technology that effectively kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in occupied spaces, according to PJ Piper, CEO of FAR UV Technologies – a Kansas City, Missouri, company. The fixtures are mounted inside the bus and continuously sanitize air with UV light that does not produce or use harmful chemicals, Piper said.
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UMA Members have access to a variety of resources to help sustain your business and our industry.
Check out our Social Media Tool Kit to enhance your online profile and promote our industry and UMA's AssurCLEAN Program to put your passengers at ease so they can travel confidently.
And remember to read and subscribe to Bus & Motorcoach News, which is powered by UMA, and your source for the weekly Motorcoach Minute video.
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2020
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UMA Town Halls, every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. ET Learn more.
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UMA Safety Management Seminar, December 2-3, 2020, Ashburn, VA Learn more.
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2021
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UMA Motorcoach EXPO, March 3-7, 2021, Orlando, FL Learn more.
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Every Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on the Zoom platform. Join from your computer or phone. |
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Resources, news and important links for advocacy, federal programs, and more |
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