AAR Statement on the Senate STB Reauthorization Bill
17 Dec 2009
Washington, D.C. (December 17, 2009) – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today issued the following statement in response to the Senate Commerce Committee markup of the STB Reauthorization Bill from AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger:
“We appreciate the efforts of the Senate Commerce Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Hutchison and senior Committee members of both parties, to work with all freight stakeholders over the last several months in developing this legislation.
“This bill would be the most significant rewrite of the railroad industry’s regulatory system in the last three decades. Under the bill, Class I railroads would be required to open their privately owned and maintained rail networks and would face vastly expanded government involvement in railroad operations.
“We continue to have concerns about certain provisions in the bill, particularly the nature and scope of the antitrust provision that may be added at a later date, and we will remain engaged with the Commerce Committee, Congress and the Administration, to craft final legislation that ensures railroads can continue to make the investments that sustain a healthy national rail network.”
Note: The AAR and its member companies have testified before Congress many times in support of preserving balanced regulation of the country’s railroads. Since the Staggers Act of 1980, freight railroads have invested more than $440 billion to revitalize the nation’s rail infrastructure. Future rail growth will produce valuable public benefits including American jobs, clean air and energy conservation, reduced highway congestion and enhanced community livability.
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Editors' Note: The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the world's leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. AAR members include the major freight railroads, or Class I railroads, of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Class I railroads represent 67 percent of the U.S. freight rail mileage and 90 percent of freight railroad industry employees. Railroads account for 43 percent of intercity freight volume — more than any other mode of transportation. To learn more about how freight rail works for America, the environment and for you, please visit: www.freightrailworks.org.