Committee Action on Infrastructure Legislation an Opportunity for Leaders to Seek Bipartisan Support

Washington, DC, June 16, 2020 – Railway Supply Institute (RSI) President Mike O’Malley released the following statement ahead of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s scheduled markup of the INVEST in America Act:
 
“We are pleased that Congress is finally moving forward with legislation that would provide billions of dollars in Federal investment toward passenger and freight rail projects. These funding streams would go a long way toward helping the economy rebound from the adverse effects of COVID-19, while creating lasting infrastructure and preserving manufacturing jobs in the rail industry.
 
“However, we strongly believe that it is crucial that Members of Congress work together in a bipartisan fashion to achieve this goal. While the INVEST in America Act contains beneficial provisions in areas like passenger rail funding and Buy America enhancements, it also includes a number of problematic changes that will seriously impede the bill’s chance of passage. Examples include a mandate on two-person crews, train length limits, restrictions on movement of LNG by rail, and new mandates tied to air brakes. In each of these cases, such changes should be considered through the regulatory process where they can be thoroughly vetted with detailed public and industry input.
 
“Every major infrastructure package in recent memory has moved in a bipartisan fashion, and we would encourage leaders of both parties to continue that tradition. We urge members of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to take this opportunity to make changes during the committee markup that would enable a bill to advance with bipartisan support so that railway suppliers and their customers can get the funding and relief that is so urgently needed.”