A bill to address unreliable service and the high cost of rail shipping was reintroduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Roger Marshall (R-KS).
The legislation, the Bipartisan Reliable Rail Service Act, would strengthen the rail supply chain, lawmakers said, and ensure the largest freight railroads provide American businesses with reliable services at reasonable rates. The effort would help products get to market more efficiently and lower costs for American families, they said.
“Across the Badger State, our farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers rely on rail service to get their products to market and make ends meet,” Baldwin said. “But when rail service is unreliable, it puts their livelihoods on the line, disrupts supply chains, and drives up costs for hardworking Wisconsin families. That’s why I am proud to work with my Republican colleague to once again introduce our Reliable Rail Service Act and help level the playing field for Wisconsin workers, grow our Made in Wisconsin economy, and keep costs down for consumers.”
The bill would clear up ambiguities over “common carrier obligation by establishing specific criteria for the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to consider when evaluating whether carriers are meeting that standard. The legislation is supported by groups within the agriculture industry, as well as labor organizations, energy producers, and manufacturers, officials said.
“For years, dairy processors have struggled to use America’s rail system because of lack of reliability and reduced service schedules. The Reliable Rail Service Act is commonsense legislation that will provide greater clarity to the railroad’s common carrier obligations and ensure that they provide more dependable service at sensible rates,” Dr. Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, said.