Railroad Day on Capitol Hill tomorrow

Written by Andrew Corselli
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Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 8, railroad industry professionals from across the country will gather to participate in Railroad Day on Capitol Hill. More than 430 representatives from industry, labor, Class I’s, short lines, shippers and manufacturers who support the rail industry will visit with 350 Congressional Offices.

First held 20 years ago, Railroad Day is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive industry days in Washington. This year, industry members will call on Congress to: “Extend the Short Line Tax Credit (45G), ensuring that the nation’s 600 small business railroads can invest more of their private money in infrastructure, keeping small town and rural America connected to the U.S. economy; oppose any increases to truck size or length; and preserve the balanced economic regulation of the railroad industry.”

“This is the single day that the whole industry comes together to exercise our first amendment rights, to petition our government on issues that are important to us and to the customers and communities we serve,” said Chuck Baker, President, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), which represents the industry’s 603 short lines and their suppliers. “Freight rail is critical to America’s continued growth and prosperity, supporting millions of jobs at agricultural, manufacturing and energy facilities across the country. Our issues are ones that Congress should care about—spurring economic growth, proving safe and environmentally friendly transportation, and ensuring every industry and geography has access to the U.S. and global economy.

“Railroad Day provides the opportunity for our members and the industry to tell their very powerful story. Our nation’s freight rail system is the envy of the world, providing safe and efficient rail service, moving goods from small town and rural America across the country, and into the global economy. Railroad Day sets the table for substantive conversations with Congress on a variety of issues that will confront them in the back half of 2019 including infrastructure, surface transportation reauthorization, appropriations, trade and more.”

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