August 03, 2022

Support for Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act Grows as Shippers Demand Relief from Costly, Unfair Practices

Washington, DC- The Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act, introduced earlier today by Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture David Scott (D-GA), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Jim Costa (D-CA), has gained support from captured freight rail customers who stand to benefit from provisions that would create a more fair and competitive marketplace. 
 
The full bill text, section-by-section, and fact sheet can be found here, here, and here.  
 
Statements in support of the Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act: 
 
American Chemistry Council (ACC): 
 
“This important legislation contains many thoughtful solutions that complement the much-needed reforms being considered by the STB,” Chris Jahn, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Chemistry Council said. “We urge Congress and the STB to work together on meaningful reforms that will incentivize the railroads to provide reliable and competitive service and hold them accountable when they fail to deliver.” 
 
National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA): 
 
“NGFA members appreciate Chairman DeFazio and Chairman Payne for their leadership in responding to severe rail service issues that have caused supply chain disruptions, endangered the delivery of feed to livestock, led to grain processing facilities slowing and shutting down, and negatively impacted U.S. grain exports. The Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act includes sensible and necessary policy measures to improve rail service and level the playing field for agricultural shippers, including incentives for railroads to perform and the establishment of minimum rail service standards. We urge the prompt approval of this bill to help address unreliable freight rail service for the U.S. agricultural value chain and deter future service failures,” Mike Seyfert, President and CEO of NGFA said.
 
National Industrial Transportation League (NITL): 
 
“The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) is pleased to support the Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act. This bill is consistent with NITL’s longstanding policy goals and objectives by providing the Surface Transportation Board (STB) with enhanced tools to better hold the railroads accountable in providing reasonable service at reasonable rates. Due to supply chain challenges complicated by railroad operation decisions, this bill also addresses the continued debilitating service problems being experienced by NITL members who move billions of dollars’ worth of freight on our nation’s rails,” Nancy O’Liddy, Executive Director of NITL stated.
 
Additional Organizations Supporting the Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act: 

  • Agribusiness Association of Iowa
  • Agribusiness Council of Indiana
  • Agricultural Council of Arkansas
  • Agricultural Retailers Association
  • AgTC — Agriculture Transportation Coalition
  • Alliance for Rail Competition
  • Amcot
  • American Agri-Women
  • American Bakers Association
  • American Cotton Producers
  • American Cotton Shippers Association
  • American Farm Bureau Federation
  • American Feed Industry Association
  • American Forest & Paper Association
  • American Malting Barley Association, Inc.
  • American Petroleum Institute
  • Associated Industries of Massachusetts
  • American Train Dispatchers Association
  • American Sheep Industry Association
  • American Soybean Association
  • American Sugar Cane League
  • Arkansas Rice Federation
  • Association of California Egg Farmers
  • Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers 
  • Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen-International Brotherhood of Teamsters 
  • Brotherhood of Railway Carmen
  • Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
  • California Association of Wheat Growers
  • California Cattlemen's Association
  • California Grain and Feed Association
  • California Pork Producers Association
  • California Poultry Federation
  • Chemistry Council of Missouri
  • Chemistry Council of New Jersey
  • Chemical Industry Council of California
  • Chemical Industry Council of Delaware
  • Chemical Industry Council of Illinois
  • The Chlorine Institute
  • Consumer Brands Association
  • Corn Refiners Association
  • Cottonseed and Feed Association
  • Defoamer Industry Trade Association 
  • Foundry Association of Michigan
  • Freight Rail Customer Alliance
  • Georgia Chemistry Council
  • Georgia Agribusiness Council
  • Glass Packaging Institute
  • Grain and Feed Association of Illinois
  • Growth Energy
  • Idaho Grain Producers Association
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
  • International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders
  • International Brotherhood of Teamsters
  • International Dairy Foods Association
  • International Fresh Produce Association
  • Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association
  • Industrial Minerals Association — North America
  • Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
  • International Warehouse Logistics Association
  • Iowa Institute for Cooperatives
  • Kansas Association of Wheat Growers
  • Kansas Grain and Feed Association
  • Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association
  • Laughlin Cartrell Inc.
  • Louisiana Chemical Association
  • Manufacture Alabama Chemistry Advisory Council
  • Manufacturers Association of Florida
  • Massachusetts Chemistry Technology Alliance
  • Michigan Chemistry Council
  • Midsouth Grain Association
  • Minnesota Crop Production Retailers
  • Minnesota Grain and Feed Association
  • Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council
  • Mississippi Feed and Grain Association
  • Montana Agricultural Business Association
  • Montana Grain Elevators Association
  • Motorcycle Industry Council
  • National Aquaculture Association
  • National Association of Chemical Distributors
  • National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
  • National Association of Wheat Growers
  • National Cattlemen's Beef Association
  • National Corn Growers Association
  • National Cotton Council of America
  • National Cotton Ginners Association
  • National Cottonseed Products Association
  • National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
  • National Farmers Union
  • National Grain and Feed Association
  • National Grange
  • National Milk Producers Federation
  • National Mining Association
  • National Oilseed Processors Association
  • National Pork Producers Council
  • National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
  • National Sorghum Producers
  • National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
  • Nebraska Agri-Business Association
  • Nebraska Cooperative Council
  • Nebraska Dry Pea and Lentil Commission
  • Nebraska Wheat Board
  • Nebraska Wheat Growers Association
  • New York State Chemistry Council
  • New York State Agribusiness Association
  • National Conference of Firemen and Oilers 
  • North American Meat Institute
  • North American Millers' Association
  • North Carolina Agribusiness Council
  • North Carolina Manufacturers Alliance
  • North Dakota Grain Dealers Association
  • Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance
  • Northwest Chicken Council
  • Ohio AgriBusiness Association
  • Ohio Chemistry Technology Council
  • Ohio Manufactures' Association
  • Oklahoma Grain & Feed Association
  • Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association
  • Oregon Feed & Grain Association
  • Oregon Wheat Growers League
  • Pacific Egg & Poultry Association
  • Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed Association
  • Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council
  • Pet Food Institute
  • Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.
  • Plastics Industry Association
  • Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association
  • Portland Cement Association
  • Private Railcar Food and Beverage Association
  • PVC Pipe Association
  • Renewable Fuels Association
  • Resilient Floor Covering Institute
  • Roquette
  • Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division 
  • Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates
  • Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association
  • South Carolina Manufacturers Association
  • South Dakota Agri-Business Association (SDABA)
  • Soy Transportation Coalition
  • Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance
  • Steel Manufacturers Association
  • The Sulphur Institute
  • Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry
  • Tennessee Feed and Grain Association
  • Texas Ag Industries Association
  • Texas Chemical Council
  • Texas Grain and Feed Association
  • Texas Wheat Producers Association
  • Transportation Communications Union 
  • Transportation Trades Department 
  • Transport Workers Union 
  • The Fertilizer Institute
  • United States Fashion Industry Association
  • USA Rice
  • Vinyl Building Council
  • Vinyl Institute
  • Vinyl Siding Institute
  • West Virginia Manufacturers Association
  • Wisconsin Agri-Business Association
  • Wyoming Wheat Marketing Commission
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