Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 1233
115th Congress(2017-2018)
Rail Shipper Fairness Act of 2017
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on May 25, 2017
Overview
Text
Introduced
May 25, 2017
Latest Action
May 25, 2017
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
1233
Congress
115
Policy Area
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation and Public Works
Primary focus of measure is all aspects of transportation modes and conveyances, including funding and safety matters; Coast Guard; infrastructure development; travel and tourism. Measures concerning water resources and navigation projects may fall under Water Resources Development policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Wisconsin
Democrat
Minnesota
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

Rail Shipper Fairness Act of 2017

This bill amends federal transportation law to: (1) require rail transportation service to be efficient and reliable based on a shipper's reasonable service requirements, and (2) expand enumerated U.S. transportation policies to provide for and promote the protection of the shipping public.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) may:

  • issue emergency service orders that include rail carrier shipments moving under contract if such shipments are part of a regional service order; and
  • require reports, service plans, or other documents that cover shipments moving under contract.

Rail carriers shall be liable for damages or equitable relief as a result of inadequate or deficient service. Civil penalties for rail carriers who violate certain federal requirements are increased from $5,000 to $25,000 per violation.

The bill allows shippers to obtain rates to or from any interchange points within 100 miles of two or more rail carriers (i.e., competitive switching).

The STB shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to develop a market-based revenue methodology for determining the reasonableness of challenged rail rates.

A rail carrier must compute fuel surcharges in accordance with changes in actual fuel prices, rather than using an index.

The STB must: (1) suspend collection of rate increases in stand-alone cost cases while a rate case is pending, and (2) replace its revenue adequacy test for rail carriers with a formula for calculating a carrier's cost of capital.

Text (1)
Actions (2)
05/25/2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
05/25/2017
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:36:24 PM