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HR 4488 105th Congress House Transportation and Public Works Administrative procedure Administrative remedies Commerce Competition Congress Congressional reporting requirements Economics and Public Finance Federal aid to transportation Government Operations and Politics Independent regulatory commissions Law Legislation Railroad abandonments Railroad freight operations Railroad policy Railroad rates Subsidies Surface Transportation Board

Rail Service Improvement Act of 1998

Introduced: August 6, 1998 Introduced by: Moran, Jerry Republican · Kansas See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 20, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads.
Aug 7, 1998
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1571-1572)
Aug 6, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Aug 6, 1998
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Rail Service Improvement Act of 1998 - Amends Federal transportation law to lengthen from four months to 16 months after an application by a rail carrier to the Surface Transportation Board for abandonment of a railroad line or discontinuance of rail transportation the time period within which a person may offer to subsidize or purchase the railroad line.

Directs the Board to: (1) identify, and to the extent practicable implement, improvements to its procedures for deciding whether a rate, classification, rule, or order of a rail carrier is unreasonable, that will result in a more expeditious resolution of issues and a less expensive process for parties initiating a complaint; and (2) report to the Congress on actions taken and any recommendations for changes in law to improve such procedures.

Declares as primary objectives for U.S. rail transportation: (1) ensuring effective competition among rail carriers at origin and destination; (2) maintaining reasonable rates in the absence of such competition; and (3) ensuring the continued health and viability of the railroad industry.

Requires the Board, in approving an application for abandonment or discontinuance, to require compliance with conditions important to protecting the railroad line's potential for later revival as an economically viable railroad line.

What's happening now August 20, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2