[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 101 (Thursday, July 10, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S9248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Hollings):
  S. 1389. A bill to authorize appropriations for the Surface 
Transportation Board for fiscal years 2004 through 2008, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined today by Senator 
Hollings in introducing a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Surface 
Transportation Board, STB, for five years.
  The STB is an independent agency established January 1, 1996, as the 
successor to the Interstate Commerce Commission. It is responsible for 
the economic regulation of interstate surface transportation, primarily 
railroads. The STB's mission is to ensure that competitive, efficient, 
and safe transportation services are provided to meet the needs of 
shippers, receivers, and consumers. The agency has remained 
unauthorized since the end of fiscal year 1998, despite efforts by the 
Senate Commerce Committee to pass reauthorization legislation.
  The Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2003 would 
reauthorize the STB for fiscal years 2004 through 2008 and provide 
sufficient resources to ensure the Board is able to continue to carry 
out its responsibilities. Specifically, the legislation would authorize 
$20.5 million for fiscal year 2004, rising to $23.5 million in fiscal 
year 2008. In fiscal year 2006, the legislation would authorize a 
higher appropriation, totaling $23.8 million, to cover the estimated 
costs that will be incurred to physically relocate the STB's offices. 
The legislation also proposes that the Board's Chairmanship position be 
subject to Senate confirmation, similar to other Boards and Commissions 
throughout the federal government, including the National 
Transportation Safety Board, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 
the Export-Import Bank, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  I know that some of my colleagues, including several members of the 
Senate Commerce Committee, are interested in considering more sweeping 
legislation to amend the Staggers Rail Act, the landmark 1980 
legislation that partially deregulated the freight railroads. As I have 
stated on numerous occasions, rail service and rail shipper issues 
warrant serious consideration. These matters have been the subject of 
many hearings before the Senate Commerce Committee, and Senator 
Hutchison will chair a Subcommittee hearing on captive shipper issues 
in the coming weeks. If a consensus is reached on other reforms needed 
to protect shippers and the public, additional legislation may be 
forthcoming from the Commerce Committee.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in moving this bill 
through the legislative process in the weeks ahead. I ask unanimous 
consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1389

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; AMENDMENT OF TITLE 49.

       (a)  Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Surface 
     Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2003''.
       (b) Amendment of Title 49.--Except as otherwise expressly 
     provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is 
     expressed in terms of an amendment to, or a repeal of, a 
     section or other provision, the reference shall be considered 
     to be made to a section or other provision of title 49, 
     United States Code.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION LEVELS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Surface 
     Transportation Board $20,516,000 for fiscal year 2004, 
     $21,215,000 for fiscal year 2005, $23,770,000 for fiscal year 
     2006, $22,564,000 for fiscal year 2007, and $23,488,000 for 
     fiscal year 2008.

     SEC. 3. CHAIRMAN DESIGNATED WITH SENATE CONFIRMATION.

       Section 701(c)(1) is amended by striking ``President'' and 
     inserting ``president, by and with the advice and consent of 
     the Senate,''.
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