By: NRECA
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee unanimously approved a Surface Transportation Board (STB) reauthorization bill (S. 2889) in December. NRECA welcomes the bill as an important step forward in the long effort by electric cooperatives and other freight rail customers to increase fairness and competition in the nation’s freight rail system. The bill directs the STB to be more proactive to address unreasonable railroad practices and adopt pro-competition policies. The measure also changes the rate challenge process to ensure it works better for rail customers without access to freight shipper competition. NRECA is working with key committee members to address other issues, such as ending the railroads’ exemption from U.S. antitrust laws and their monopolistic practices. There is much work ahead in getting the consumer-oriented reforms included in this bill, and other legislation advocated by freight rail shippers, enacted into law and implemented.
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