H.R. 9581 ‘Marker’ for 118th Congress
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.)
Republican Representative Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), with GOP cosponsors Mike Bost and Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Michael Guest and Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) and Troy Nehls (R-Tex.), on Dec. 15 introduced H.R. 9581, the Short Line Railroad Relief Act, which would authorize emergency disaster relief funding resources for Class II and III railroads through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Current federal programs offer immediate relief benefits after natural disasters to other transportation modes such as highways and transit, but not to small-business short lines and regionals.
“H.R. 9581 is a ‘marker, at best for the 118th Congress,” notes Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner. “There is no time for any new legislation to go through committee hearings, a House floor vote and then transmittal to the Senate. The 117th Congress adjourns Dec. 30.”
Republicans assume control of the House on Jan. 3 by a slim margin. H.R. 9581, referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials on Dec. 16, would presumably be re-introduced in the 118th Congress.
As expected, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) said it “strongly supports” the bill, noting that Rep. Donalds “was spurred into action by the devastation to the Seminole Gulf Railway in his district, caused by Hurricane Ian earlier this year. The concern, however, is applicable nationwide, resulting in Congressional support throughout the country for this effort. We applaud each of the cosponsoring members of Congress for their leadership.”
“Short lines are the critical first and last mile of our nation’s freight rail system, connecting small town and rural America to the U.S. and world economies,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. “When a natural disaster strikes, it is critical that transportation infrastructure get back up and run-ning as soon as possible, allowing for relief efforts to flow in and materials to flow out of affected areas. Short line railroads play a critical transportation role, yet limited federal disaster relief options are available beyond small loans, whereas massive disaster relief resources are available for high-ways and transit. The Short Line Railroad Relief Act would allow the USDOT to provide speedy and significant grant funding to short line railroads following a disaster, so they can help rebuild the local economy instead of being forced to end operations, abandoning customers and the communities they serve.”
