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Sep 18, 2014
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee this week unanimously passed S. 2777, the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act, sponsored by Sen. Rockefeller (D-WV) and Sen. Thune (R-SD) and supported by the American Soybean Association. The bill would reauthorize and make changes to the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which oversees the freight rail industry. The bill contains several provisions that would provide new authorities to the STB, including the authority to initiate an investigation of unreasonable rail practices, rather than waiting for a shipper or group of shippers to file a formal complaint with the agency. The legislation would also streamline rate case procedures, create time limits for determinations, establish a meaningful alternative dispute resolution process and require an analysis of the rules under which the agency operates.
ASA signed onto an agricultural industry letter expressing support for the measure as well as a broader business and industry support letter that was coordinated by the American Chemistry Council. While the bill is not expected to be enacted into law this year, it does bring additional attention to the rail service issues being experienced in the northern tier and provides additional pressure on the rail companies to address the problems.
