Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Senators Call for Resolution Adopting PEB Recommendations (UPDATED)

A resolution to adopt the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) No. 250’s recommendations was introduced Sept. 12 by Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) to prevent a “rail worker strike if contract negotiations are not soon resolved.” Update: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blocked a vote on it, according to a Sept. 14 Bloomberg report.

Schumer a thorn in Thune’s side—again

On. Dec. 21, U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.Dak.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, took to the Senate floor to voice his support and call on his colleagues for unanimous consent to confirm the nomination of Ronald Batory as Federal Railroad Administrator. Once again, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) played the spoiler.

PTC relief on the way?

The U.S. railroad industry has been scrambling since 2008 to meet the requirements of an unfunded federal government mandate—namely, having Positive Train Control installed and fully operational by Dec. 31, 2015 on 60,000 miles of track where hazmat and passenger trains operate. Parallel to the PTC initiative has been a battle waged on Capitol Hill to extend the end-of-the-year deadline. That effort may be paying off, and the railroads may one day be grateful that they have a Thune on their side.