The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has released a bipartisan five-year surface transportation bill authorizing $78 billion for rail, freight, safety and research programs; it is a companion to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works’ (EPW) recently advanced, and also bipartisan, $303.5 billion Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021.
U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) have reintroduced the Freight RAILCAR Act, bipartisan legislation supported by the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) that would “encourage the adoption of new, more efficient, environmentally friendly freight railcars.”
Congress passed the $2.3 trillion “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021” (H.R. 133), an omnibus spending bill that includes a $900 billion COVID-19 emergency relief package as well as government appropriations for fiscal year 2021, tax extenders and other provisions. While many in the rail industry expressed appreciation—stressing that additional transit aid, for instance, will be needed—outgoing President Donald Trump did not. He refused to approve the bill—calling for higher direct relief checks to Americans and other changes—but he finally signed it into law late Dec. 27, averting a government shutdown Dec. 29.
The Railway Supply Institute has elected Tricia Charles, Jeff Lytle and Harrison Wadsworth to its board of directors for three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2021. As well, RSI Vice President Government and Public Affairs Nicole Brewin was appointed to the Federal Railroad Administration Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC).
The League of Railway Women (LRW) has awarded its 2020 Connie Sumara Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) and the inaugural LRW Future of Railroading Scholarship ($1,000) to TrinityRail Operations Manager Megan Forbes and Jessica Labrecque, respectively. An undergraduate team fielded by Georgia Southern University won the Intermodal Association of North America’s (IANA) tenth Logistics and Supply Chain Academic Competition. Additionally, Chicago-based Quandel Consultants has named David M. Simon Vice President-Director of Wisconsin Operations.
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) today released the RSI-100 Product Quality Certification Standard for tank car components.
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) has moved its 2020 education conference online. Now open to all rail industry professionals, RSI 2020 Online Education Sessions will run September 21 through October 2 and feature two to three webinars each weekday.
After just over two years at the helm, Railway Supply Institute (RSI) President Mike O’Malley is leaving the organization at the end of July. O’Malley, who has served as RSI’s leader since early 2018, is “pursuing an opportunity with a corporation outside the Washington, D.C. area,” RSI said in an announcement. O’Malley joined the organization after serving in a government relations capacity with CSX.
In light of the ongoing public health risks surrounding in-person events and the safety of travel as a result of COVID-19, the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) has decided to cancel the 2020 RSI Expo & Education Conference scheduled for Sept. 9-11 in Chicago, Ill.
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) has hired Lee Verhey as its new Director of Regulatory and Industry Affairs.