Bill Summaries and Co-sponsor Lists


Bill Summaries
Listed below are the major legislative proposals pending before Congress that deal with rail customer concerns.  If you would like additional information on these bills, please contact CURE.

How Legislation Would Increase Rail Customer Access to Competition

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Majority Staff Statement on H.R. 2125 Hearing, September 25, 2007

Summary of the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007 - S.772

Summary of the Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act of 2007 - H.R. 2125

Letter from Chairman Oberstar (D-MN), on the introduction of H.R. 2125

Overview of the H.R. 2125 the Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act

Opening Statement from Chairman Oberstar (D-MN) at the “Rail Competition and Service” hearing, September 25, 2007

Senator Dorgan Pushes for Captive Shipper Protections at House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing, September 25, 2007

Antitrust Legislation - Bill Description
This legislation will:

• Override anti-competitive rulings of the STB and direct the STB to adopt pro-competitive policies.
• Ensure a workable rate challenge process for those rail customers without access to transportation competition.
• Permits the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to review mergers under antitrust law.
• Allows state Attorneys General and other private parties to sue for treble damages and sue for court orders to halt anti-competitive conduct, both of which are not currently allowable under federal law.

Senate: Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007 (S. 772)
*Introduced March 6, 2007

Cosponsors (6)

• Sen. Kohl, Herb (D-WI)
• Sen. Coleman, Norm (R-MN)
• Sen. Feingold, Russell D. (D-WI)
• Sen. Vitter, David (R-LA)
• Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV (D-WV)
• Sen. Harkin, Tom (D-IA)

House: Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007 (H.R. 1650)
*Introduced March 22, 2007

Cosponsors (5)

• Rep. Baldwin, Tammy (D-WI)
• Rep. Alexander, Rodney (R-LA)
• Rep. Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND)
• Rep. Baker, Richard H. (R-LA)
• Rep. Walz, Timothy J. (D-MN)

STB Legislation - Bill Description
This legislation will:

• Repeals the railroad exemptions in the antitrust and transportation statutes, so that antitrust law fully covers railroads just as it covers other industries.
• Empower the STB to enforce the railroads' obligation to serve their customers and the nation - including the need for reliable deliveries.
• Empower and direct the STB to be proactive when it has knowledge of unreasonable railroad practices.

Senate: The Senate Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act of 2007 (S.953)
*Introduced March 21, 2007  

Cosponsors (10)

• Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV (D-WV)
• Sen. Craig, Larry E. (R-ID)
• Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. (D-ND)
• Sen. Vitter, David (R-LA)
• Sen. Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN)
• Sen. Tester, Jon (D-MT)
• Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. (D-LA)
• Sen. Crapo, Mike (R-ID)
• Sen. Baucus, Max (D-MT)
• Sen. Cantwell, Maria (D-WA)