On June 18 the U.S. Senate passed S. 808, Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015. As previously reported, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced the act for the purposes of strengthening the STB’s autonomy and modernizing the process of resolving rail issues effectively.

IWLA signed onto the Rail Customer Coalition letter of support in increasing funds to give the STB. “Additional resources are needed for the Board to meet the needs of the users of the freight rail system by providing adequate oversight and appropriate intervention, ” the letter reads.

The letter continues to describe the current dysfunction of the STB. The board has been unable to resolve complex rate disputes,. This has yielded severe railroad service disruptions and institutional barriers that reduce competition in rail.

IWLA hopes the U.S. House will recognize the great need of S.808 and the board can proceed in modernizing its system and advancing the rail industry to fair and efficient standards.