FRCA Issue Priorities for the 114th Congress

Written on .

During the current 114th Congress, the Freight Rail Customer Alliance (FRCA) supports the following legislation:

  • Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015
    S. 808 (S. Rpt. 114-52)
    Provides the first authorization for the STB since 1998 and establishes basic reforms and process enhancements for the Board.  
    [Refer to Side-by-Side insert for more information.]
  • Rail Shipper Fairness Act of 2015
    S. 853
    Provides the first authorization for the STB since 1998 and would improve rail service, enhance rail competition, reform maximum rate case regulations, and establish reforms at the STB.
  • Annual Appropriation Levels for the Surface Transportation Board
    H.R. 2577 (H. Rpt. 114-129, S. Rpt. 114-75)
    Additional appropriated funding is needed for the STB to effectively address its IT challenges and to help ensure the Board can efficiently meet its current, mandated responsibilities and probable enhanced duties.
  • Severe Fuel Supply Emergency Response Act of 2015
    S. 1405
    Addresses fuel supply deficiencies by outlining a coordinated federal response once a fuel report disruption has been reported to the U.S. Department of Energy.
  • Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2015 S. 1634
    Removes a 91-year-old special freight railroad antitrust exemption.

Supporting Published Reports

“Modernizing Freight Rail Regulation,” Transportation Research Board.  June 2015.
[Refer to TRB Summary insert for more information.]

Quadrennial Energy Review, U.S. Department of Energy.  April 2015.
[Refer to QER insert for more information.]