Sunflower State News

U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) have reintroduced the Reliable Rail Service Act, a legislative effort aimed at improving the reliability of freight rail service for American farmers, manufacturers, and other businesses. The bill is intended to address concerns about inconsistent rail service and rising shipping costs that impact supply chains across various industries.

Senator Marshall emphasized the importance of dependable transportation for Kansas’s agricultural producers, stating: “Kansas’s farmers and ranchers depend upon reliable transport of their world-class goods to the rest of the country, and Class 1 railroads are not meeting expectations – this is a disservice to hard-working Kansans. This bill lays out reasonable requirements for rail carriers to meet these important obligations, and I look forward to working with Senator Baldwin on getting this to the finish line.”

Senator Baldwin highlighted similar challenges faced by her constituents in Wisconsin: “Across the Badger State, our farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers rely on rail service to get their products to market and make ends meet. But when rail service is unreliable, it puts their livelihoods on the line, disrupts supply chains, and drives up costs for hardworking Wisconsin families. That’s why I am proud to work with my Republican colleague to once again introduce our Reliable Rail Service Act and help level the playing field for Wisconsin workers, grow our Made in Wisconsin economy, and keep costs down for consumers.”

The legislation has received support from groups representing agriculture, labor organizations, energy producers, and manufacturers who cite negative impacts from poor freight rail performance.

The full text of the bill can be found here.