CURE Praises Senate Commerce Committee for Approving STB Reauthorization Bill on March 25, 2015
For Immediate Release
March 25, 2015
Contact: Ann Warner
202.465.8716
WASHINGTON, D.C. – David Sauer, President of Consumers United for Rail Equity (CURE), called today’s bipartisan approval by the Senate Commerce Committee of legislation reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Board (STB) a “major step toward reforming the 20-year-old agency.”
"The STB’s is meant to provide oversight of the nation’s railroads to ensure rail shippers have a fair and impartial venue for their concerns about rail policy. Reforming the STB is essential to achieving that goal,” said Sauer, who is chief operating officer and senior vice president of Dakota Gasification Company (Dakota Gas), Bismarck ND, a subsidiary of Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2015 (S.808), would improve how the STB works by making it a more timely, efficient, and equitable regulatory agency. The bill, introduced by Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) on March 19, would expand the membership of the STB to five members from its current three person structure and provide needed improvements in Federal oversight of freight railroads.
“CURE looks forward to working with Chairman Thune and Ranking Member Nelson to bring the STB Reauthorization Act to the Senate floor in the near future,” said Ann Warner, CURE interim executive director.
CURE is a national coalition representing freight rail shippers. Through a growing coalition of industries and associations, CURE is working to educate the public on the impacts to consumers from railroad practices.
ABOUT CURE
The mission of CURE, and its successor organization, is to obtain changes in Federal law and policy that will provide all freight shippers with reliable rail service at competitive prices.
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