The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee scheduled a Thursday vote on a bill that would compel the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to write a regulation covering sleep disorders rather than issue a guidance.

The bill introduced by Reps. Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., and Daniel Lipinski, D-Ill., says the agency must go through the rulemaking process to regulate sleep disorders, including sleep apnea.

The agency is working on a guidance to medical examiners regarding sleep disorders, but trucking interests insist that a formal rule is needed to give employers a clear statement of their legal responsibilities.

A spokesman for the T&I Committee said that if the measure passes it will be reported to the full House for action.

“The bill is a good government measure,” said Justin Harclerode. “It doesn’t address whether or not there should be any regulation changes – it simply requires that any proposed regulatory changes follow the rulemaking process.”

The bill is likely to be approved by the committee and taken up by the House, but it is not clear if the Senate will do the same, said one insider who could not speak on the record.