Air travel and rail transport were early examples of deregulation bringing huge benefits to consumers and industries. Yet automobility, air travel, and freight rail, are increasingly threatened with further regulation that will reduce their ability to transport goods and people. CEI opposes these attacks by arguing for greater freedom in mobility and opposing perverse transportation industry regulations.
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Featured Posts

News Release
EPA’s decision to allow California to ban new gas-powered cars by 2035 reversed after President Trump signs CRA resolution
California’s green light from the Environmental Protection Agency to ban new gas-powered cars by 2035 was revoked after Congress passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA)…

Blog
Clearing the tracks: CEI’s three-point blueprint to DOT deregulation
Background The Trump administration has made good on some of its promises of deregulation – namely with two executive orders from the beginning of this…

Blog
Senate pulls plug on California’s gas car ban
The US Senate on Thursday voted 51-46 for H.J. Res.88, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to repeal the Environmental Protection…
Search Posts
Salt Lake Tribune
Will Self-Driving Cars, Taxis Make Mass Transit Obsolete?
The Salt Lake Tribune covers Marc Scribner’s testimony before the Transportation Governance and Funding Task Force in Utah. Utah officials have long planned…
Comment
Testimony of Marc Scribner Before the Utah Transportation Governance and Funding Task Force
View Full Document as PDF Chairs Harper and Schultz, and members of the task force, thank you giving me the opportunity to…
The Hill
Senators Eye Ticket Fee to Overhaul Airports
The Hill covers the Senate’s attempt to raise the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) cap for airports and CEI’s endorsement of the measure. President…
Blog
‘Sully’ Wrong on Air Traffic Control Reform
We urge Sully to do his homework and to critically assess the false, anti-consumer claims he is parroting on behalf of the corporate jet lobby.
Ars Technica
You Still Cannot Vape on US Inbound, Outbound Flights
True Viral News covers CEI’s objection to a DOT ban on electronic cigarettes on flights. A divided federal appeals court is upholding a…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Airport Ticket Fee Boost Gets Lift in Congress
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covers CEI’s support of increasing the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) cap. Airports including Atlanta’s are pushing for an increase in…
Blog
California Legislature Moves to Replace Federal Electric Vehicle Subsidies
Thanks to the federal government, purchasers of electric vehicles are given a $7,500 tax credit.
Blog
Time to Fix our Nation’s Aviation Systems
The time to systemically improve our nation’s aviation infrastructure is now.
Blog
House Energy & Commerce Committee Considers Self-Driving Vehicle Legislation
This bill improves on the definition of “automated driving system” in a manner that likely ensures its constitutionality.
Blog
Senate Appropriations Committee to Consider Airport Fee Increase
The Senate Appropriations Committee will consider a provision that would increase the airport passenger facility charge cap from $4.50 to $8.
Bloomberg BNA
Cybersecurity Questions Swirl Around Autonomous Vehicle Bills
Bloomberg BNA discusses autonomous vehicle regulations with Marc Scribner. The House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to mark up a bill July 27…
The Fix
Vaping Ban Upheld By Federal Court
The Fix discusses the Department of Transportation e-cigarette ban with Sam Kazman. A federal court has stamped out a challenge to the Department of…
Blog
Does the Car of the Future Require a “Talking Car” Mandate?
The Competitive Enterprise Institute is hosting an event later today where a proposal to require all new cars in the United States come outfitted…
Bloomberg
‘No Smoking’ Also Applies to E-Cigarettes on Flights, Court Says
Bloomberg covers a lawsuit CEI filed against the Department of Transportation airplane e-cigarette ban. Vaping is smoking, a federal appeals court ruled, upholding…
The Hill
Court Upholds Obama Rule Banning Vaping on Airplanes
The Hill covers a lawsuit filed by CEI against the Department of Transportation’s airplane vaping ban. A federal appeals court Friday upheld an…
The Wall Street Journal
Courts Rule E-Cigarettes Should Be Regulated Like Tobacco Products
The Wall Street Journal covers a lawsuit filed by CEI challenging the Department of Transportation’s ban on vaping on airplanes. A federal court…
Freight Waves
Today’s Pickup: State Laws May Limit Potential of Platoons
Freight Waves covers Marc Scribner’s Authorizing Automated Vehicle Platooning: A Guide for State Legislators, 2017 Edition. While platooning vehicles are close to real-world operation,…
Trucks.com
Hodgepodge of Traffic Laws Could Stymie Truck Platooning
Trucks.com discusses automated vehicle platooning with Marc Scribner, author of Authorizing Automated Vehicle Platooning: A Guide for State Legislators, 2017 Edition. Truck platooning,…
FleetOwner
Report: State Laws Need Changing to Support Platooning, AVs
FleetOwner discusses automated vehicle platooning with Marc Scribner, author of Authorizing Automated Vehicle Platooning: A Guide for State Legislators, 2017 Edition. Among…
Blog
Reform State Vehicle Codes to Enable Automated Vehicle Platooning
In the future, automated platooning will allow roadway capacity enhancements without costly physical roadway expansions.
Study
Authorizing Automated Vehicle Platooning, 2017 Edition
View Full Document as PDF Automated vehicles have captured the public’s imagination in recent years following successful on-road demonstrations by developers such…
Blog
Resources for Federal Aviation Reform
The United States’ aviation system needs a deep, institutional overhaul.
Washington Examiner
Air Traffic Control Reform Is a No-Brainer
Air travelers expect air traffic control to work, and that it be out of sight and mind. Unfortunately, ongoing government failure to modernize the Federal…
The Regulatory Review
Constructively Improving Railroad Regulations
Edward R. Hamberger, President and CEO of the Association of American Railroads, mentions a piece by Fred Smith and Marc Scribner regarding regulations of the…
Blog
2017 Competitive Enterprise Dinner Keynote: Elaine Chao
Remarks delivered by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao at CEI’s “Through the Looking Glass” Annual Dinner & Reception.
Blog
Will the Swamp Let Trump Reform Fuel Economy?
The administration should explore the legal implications of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which prohibits states, like California, from adopting or enforcing laws or…
Paul Molloy Show
AUDIO: Marc Scribner discusses air traffic control on the Paul Molloy Show
June 21, 2017 – CEI senior fellow Marc Scribner discusses air traffic control on the Paul Molloy Show. Listen here.
Law360
Senate, House Panels Unveil Dueling FAA Funding Bills
CEI Senior Fellow Marc Scribner discusses air traffic control reform with Law360: Supporters of an air traffic control overhaul say the House bill…
Fox Business Network
VIDEO: Jim Harper Discusses the TSA’s new book policy on Fox Business
June 26, 2017 – Jim Harper, Vice President of CEI, discusses a new TSA policy requiring passengers to exclude books from carry-ons on Fox Business’…
Blog
Congress Should Embrace Airport Financing Reforms
Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a markup on its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill. The Senate Commerce Committee is considering…
Letters
CEI Leads Coalition Supporting Uncapped Passenger Facility Charge
View Full Document as PDF Dear Chairman Thune and Ranking Member Nelson: We write today in strong support of including an uncapped…
News Release
CEI Report: House Air Traffic Control Plan Seeks Big Improvements for Travelers
Two new reports from CEI tackle myths and facts about the 21st Century AIRR Act.
Blog
Reforming Air Traffic Control with the 21st Century AIRR Act
To aid in the public understanding of this important but complex reform proposal, CEI has released two policy briefs on the 21st Century AIRR Act.
Study
Dispelling Six Myths on Air Traffic Control Reform and Labor Relations
View Full Document as PDF In 2016, when House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) introduced legislation to reform the…
Study
Air Traffic Control Reform 2017: Frequently Asked Questions
View Full Document as PDF The air traffic control reforms contained in the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (21st Century AIRR)…
Los Angeles Times
California’s Clean Air Act Waiver Should Be Yanked, Trump’s Former Environmental Advisor Says
Los Angeles Times covers California’s Clean Air Act waiver and Myron Ebell’s comments at a training program hosted by the National Press Foundation.
Blog
Should Whole Foods Employees Fear Amazon?
Yes, individuals will lose their jobs to automation, but increases in productivity will boost demand that will, ultimately, require more human workers.
Blog
A Birthday Wish List for the President
Here are four gifts Congress should give the president before its annual July 4th recess.
WMAL
AUDIO: Marc Scribner Discusses Air Traffic Control Reform on WMAL
Marc Scribner, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, discusses Air Traffic Control Reform on the Larry O’Connor Show on WMAL.
The Epoch Times
Trump’s Air Traffic Reform Looks to the Future
The Epoch Times discusses Trump’s air traffic control proposal with Marc Scribner. The future of aviation is upon us, but we may not…
The Hill
Trump May Restrict Length of Environmental Reviews Under Infrastructure Plan
The Hill covers Trasportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s remarks at CEI’s Annual Dinner and Reception. The Trump administration may enforce restrictions on the length…
News Release
Trump Administration’s “Buy America” Plan Will Be Burdensome and Costly
President Trump unveiled more of his ideas on infrastructure priorities and reforms in a speech today. CEI transportation policy expert Marc Scribner praised some reforms the president proposed…
Blog
Vox.com Snookered by Debunked 2016 CBO Score of Air Traffic Control Reform
The Trump administration released its “legislative principles” for reforming U.S. air traffic control, which closely mirror a reform proposal introduced in 2016 by House Transportation…
CNS News
The TSA Delays Transatlantic Laptop Ban
On May 30, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it would not impose a ban on laptop computers in airline cabins on transatlantic…
News Release
Air Traffic Reform Plan from White House Earns CEI Praise
Today, the White House announced a plan to reform air traffic control in America. CEI transportation policy expert Marc Scribner, who attended today’s announcement at…
Blog
TSA Delays Transatlantic Laptop Ban, Which CEI Questioned in Petition
On May 31, the Secretary of Homeland Security said the TSA “might” still impose a ban on transatlantic flights in the future.
Blog
Canada’s Air Traffic Provider Announces Lowered Fees; U.S. Should Embrace Same Model
Since the Canadian government decided 20 years ago to spin off air traffic control from the nation’s transportation department, Nav Canada has seen its inflation-adjusted…
Blog
Rep. Meadows Introduces Transportation Performance-based Regulatory Reform Bill
Today, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) introduced the Revamping American Infrastructure Act of 2017 (H.R. 2714), which aims to “facilitate the use of outcome-based performance…
RealClear Future
Straight Talk on the “Talking Car” Mandate
Will another driver’s car “talking” with yours someday save your life? The answer, from regulators and many automakers, is a resounding “Yes.” Such a promising…
The Hill
Transportation Department Faces Cuts Under Trump Budget
The Hill discusses President Trump’s proposed budget in terms of transportation with Marc Scribner. Funding for the Department of Transportation (DOT) and a…