House of Representatives Approves Record Level $37.5 million for the STB in FY 2021 Appropriations

On July 31, 2020 the U.S. House Representatives passed the 2nd FY2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 7617, by a 217-197 vote. This includes a record-level $37.5 million for the Surface Transportation Board and accompanying report language acknowledging that petition was filed with the STB to institute a rulemaking to adopt procedural rules that would require a cost-benefit analysis in certain future STB rulemaking proceedings. The Committee encourages the STB to thoroughly review and consider all comments received in response to the solicitation of information. If the STB decides to adopt a cost-benefit analysis procedure for significant rulemakings, then the Committee encourages the STB to request additional resources, as necessary, to ensure the STB has the staffing and expertise to undertake such cost-benefit analyses.  The legislative text and report language can be found in H.R. 7616, H. Rpt. 116-452.