Legislation

(Source: Progressive Railroading 04/07/2020) A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is asking Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory and Acting Federal Transit Administrator K. Jane Williams to address rail labor officials’ concerns about health and safety protections for rail workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawmakers wrote to the agency heads last week. The letter follows the SMART-Transportation Division‘s petition sent in March…

(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/30/2020) The $2.2 trillion federal stimulus legislation that Congress passed late last week included measures that ensured rail workers will have access to unemployment and sickness benefits during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) announced late last week. The AAR and ASLRRA…

(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/27/2020) The U.S. House today is expected to vote on a $2.2 trillion legislation package passed by the U.S. Senate late Wednesday in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation includes $25 billion for public transportation agencies, including commuter-rail operators. The funds will be provided through formula operating and…

(Source: Progressive Railroad 03/26/2020) The Teamsters Rail Conference has asked Congress to improve railroad retirement unemployment and sickness benefits as part of the stimulus package to provide economic relief to Americans who are not able to work during the coronavirus pandemic. The conference’s March 24 letter to congressional leaders is part of a larger effort by all rail labor…