[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1571-E1572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RAIL SERVICE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, rail transportation has long played 
an important role in shaping the American landscape. In recent years, 
however, this landscape has made for difficult situations for shippers, 
railroads, and farmers looking to move their grain to export markets.

[[Page E1572]]

  Following the deregulation of the Staggers Act, a dramatic shift has 
occurred in the railroad industry in Kansas. Class I railroads have 
gone from operating over 6,500 miles of track in 1986 to 3,800 miles 
today. Short line carriers now have over 30% of the track in Kansas and 
make up an even greater percentage in the First Congressional District. 
Kansas still ranks fourth in the nation with over 5,500 miles of rail; 
however, we have lost nearly 700 miles of track through abandonments 
just since 1991.
  These changes have left Kansas with fewer Class I carriers and back-
to-back years where large harvests have crippled the grain 
transportation system in Kansas. While no single solution exists to 
cure all of the problems facing the industry, the federal role in 
regulating this industry can and should be improved.
  The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is responsible for approving 
railroad mergers, approving abandonments, and mediating rate disputes. 
The agency is currently being considered for reauthorization. Earlier 
this year, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a 
series of hearings on the state of the railroad industry and the 
regulatory functions of the STB.
  As a result of those hearings and my own experiences in dealing with 
the railroad situation in Kansas, I am introducing legislation aimed at 
improving the ability of the STB to address the critical transportation 
issues facing rural America.
  Specifically, this legislation would:
  Reduce the likelihood of additional abandonments by providing states 
an other small railroads an additional year to acquire an abandoned 
line;
  Provide an expedited rate case procedure;
  Provide direction to the STB to devote resources to promoting 
competition and reasonable rates; and
  Direct the STB to place a priority on improving the economic 
viability of abandoned lines.
  Maintaining an efficient transportation system has long been a key to 
the success of U.S. agriculture. As agriculture becomes more export 
dependent, rail transportation is more important than ever. As a member 
of the Railroad subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee, I 
am eager work to improve rail transportation.
  The changes proposed in this bill would assist in solving the current 
rail transportation issues by quickly resolving shipper complaints and 
taking steps to ensure that over the long haul, rail transportation 
remains an option for America's agricultural producers.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to support this legislation 
and urge its early consideration and passage.

                          ____________________