ERMUSR INFORMATION 03-19-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Those of us who are concerned about this problem need your help. There are several ongoing activities in the Executive Branch that provide opportunities either to produce information that will illuminate this problem or to produce policies to address this problem. They include: • The Surface Transportation Board has several policy proceedings pending that address both the level of competition in the national freight rail system and the discredited and burdensome procedures by which rail customers without access to transportation competition can challenge their rail rates for being excessive. Other executive branch agencies who have identified the lack of rail competition as a problem should engage in these proceedings and advocate for increased competition in the national freight rail system and a less burdensome rate challenge process. • The Department of Transportation has an ongoing effort to develop a national freight rail plan, and recently established a Freight Policy Council. The rail plan and the work of the Council must address the freight rail monopoly problem. • The Department of Agriculture worked with the Department of Transportation to produce an excellent report in April 2010 on transportation issues in rural America. This report highlighted railroad monopoly problems in rural America that adversely affect agriculture input costs, the marketing of agricultural products,the price of electricity in rural America, and economic development in rural America. This study needs to be updated as a source of reliable information on this important issue. • Finally, an Advisory Committee on Logistical Supply Chain Competitiveness was established recently in the Department of Commerce. This Committee needs to focus on the freight rail monopoly that exists in our domestic supply chain and its impact on the competitiveness of American industries and producers. To help address this significant problem, I also request that you appoint a senior official to coordinate these ongoing efforts, to analyze the freight rail monopoly problem, and to suggest federal policies that can be adopted to ensure a competitive national freight rail transportation system. I believe strongly that efforts to grow our national economy and create jobs are hampered by the freight rail monopoly problem. I look forward to working with you to address this problem in the coming Congress. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Sincerely, Al Franken United States Senator 2