Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019, announced the Social Security Administration (SSA). The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more [...]
SMART Transportation Division Alternate Legislative Director Greg Hynes was appointed to the federal Department of Transportation’s Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking (ACHT) in early October. “Your experience and leadership as a representative of rail and lab [...]
Two members, Jason Vincent Martinez, 40, and Benjamin ‘Benji’ George Brozovich, 39, died Thursday, Oct. 4 when the Union Pacific (UP) train they were operating hit the rear-end of a stopped train near Cheyenne, Wyo. SMART TD would like to express our condolences t [...]
When a natural disaster, extreme weather or other emergency occurs that affects providers and the Medicare beneficiaries that they serve, special emergency-related policies and procedures may be implemented. The process begins when a governor of an affected state requests ass [...]
Come Nov. 7, Macon County, Ill.’s county government could be getting a SMART influx with two candidates with Transportation Division ties seeking office in the Nov. 6 elections. Lloyd Holman, a member of the SMART TD Alumni Association, is seeking a seat on the Macon Co [...]
SMART Transportation Division is mourning the loss of two members who were killed in a deadly train collision that occurred Oct. 4 west of Cheyenne, Wyo. Benjamin Brozovich, 39, of Lusk, Wyo., and Jason V. Martinez, 40, of Cheyenne, died when their Union Pacific freight train [...]
The Bellingham Herald reports that last week the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) decided to repeal a rule that required electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) braking systems be installed on all oil trains. [...]
During a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee hearing on the implementation of positive train control (PTC) among U.S. railroads Oct. 3, an Amtrak executive said that the carrier plans to continue operating the Southwest Chief passenger route through at least [...]
Two legislative priorities gained support in early October. Democratic U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas (Dist. 30) is the latest legislator to sign up to support H.R. 6016 — the Bus Operator and Pedestrian Protection Act, which was introduced over the summer. The bill [...]
The Seattle Times reports that a Seattle man who took advantage of the Railroad Retirement disability program for decades will receive prison time and have to pay back double the more than $177,000 he took. Paul LaMarche, 67, claimed disability in 1988 and began receiving RRB [...]
