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S. 1634 · 114th Congress

Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2015

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IntroducedPassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law (gold)Resolution agreed to (full, dark)Failed or vetoed (gray)

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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 114th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

4 cosponsors · 3 D, 1 R

2 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

Amends the Clayton Act to grant the United States exclusive authority to bring suit for injunctive relief against any common carrier that is not a rail common carrier and that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). This covers motor carriers, water carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and pipeline carriers.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Jun 18, 2015

Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2015

Amends the Clayton Act to grant the United States exclusive authority to bring suit for injunctive relief against any common carrier that is not a rail common carrier and that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). This covers motor carriers, water carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and pipeline carriers.

Declares that, in any civil action against a rail common carrier, the U.S. district court shall not be required to defer to the primary jurisdiction of the STB.

Empowers the Federal Trade Commission to regulate, and engage in antitrust enforcement regarding, collective rate agreements and certain transactions, including railroad mergers and acquisitions.

Permits treble damages against common carrier railroads in antitrust suits to parties injured by antitrust violations without regard to whether such railroads have filed rates or whether a complaint challenging rates has been filed.

Amends federal transportation law to terminate the exemptions from antitrust laws for collective ratemaking agreements.

Requires the STB, when reviewing a proposed agreement, to take into account its impact upon shippers, consumers, and affected communities.

Exempts from antitrust law the pooling of railroad cars approved by the STB or its predecessor agency.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2015

Latest action (Jun 18, 2015): Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Policy area: Commerce · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Jun 18, 2015

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.