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S 638 113th Congress Senate

Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2013

Official title: A bill to amend the Federal antitrust laws to provide expanded coverage and to eliminate exemptions from such laws that are contrary to the public interest with respect to railroads.

Introduced: March 21, 2013 Introduced by: Klobuchar, Amy Democratic · Minnesota See on congress.gov
Commerce Civil actions and liabilityCompetition and antitrustRailroadsTransportation costs
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 21, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 21, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action March 21, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2013 - Amends the Clayton Act to grant the United States exclusive authority to bring suit for injunctive relief against a common carrier that is not a rail common carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

Revises provisions prohibiting anticompetitive transactions except for those approved by specified federal agencies acting under certain statutes to eliminate the exemption for certain STB approved transactions.

Provides that, in any civil action against a rail common carrier, the U.S. district court shall not be required to defer to the primary jurisdiction of the STB.

Empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to regulate, and engage in antitrust enforcement regarding, collective rate agreements and certain transactions, including railroad mergers and acquisitions.

Permits treble damages against railroad common carriers in antitrust suits to parties injured by antitrust violations without regard to whether such railroads have filed rates or whether a complaint challenging rates has been filed.

Amends federal transportation law to terminate the exemptions from antitrust laws for collective ratemaking agreements.

Requires the STB, when reviewing a proposed agreement, to take into account its impact upon shippers, consumers, and affected communities.

Revises STB authority to provide that a rail carrier, corporation, or a person participating in an approved transaction is not exempt from specified antitrust laws. Makes such provision inapplicable to any transaction relating to the pooling of railroad cars approved by the STB or its predecessor agency.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 638: Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-638/
MLA
"S. 638: Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-638/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 638, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-638/.
Markdown link
[S. 638: Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-638/)
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