Local Rail Service Assistance Act

passedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

10 April 1978

Last action

13 October 1978 · Passed

Status

Measure laid on table in House, S. 2981 passed in lieu.

Summary

Local Rail Service Assistance Act - Declares that the policy of this Act is to provide Federal assistance in the provision of adequate transportation service to shippers and communities served by light density rail lines. Amends the Department of Transportation Act to stipulate that the rail freight service continuation payments made to States under such Act shall cover the difference between the revenues which are attributable to a line of railroad and the avoidable cost of providing rail freight service on such line, together with a reasonable return on the value of such line. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make rail freight assistance available to States: (1) for the acquisition, by purchase or otherwise, of rail lines or property; (2) for the cost of constructing rail or rail related facilities to improve local rail freight service; and (3) the cost of innovative experimental programs which are designed to improve service on eligible rail lines and which involve cooperative action between State and local communities and railroad industry representatives or shippers. Revises the cost sharing formula for rail freight assistance programs under such Act to stipulate that the Federal share of such a program shall be 80 percent of its cost. Stipulates that the State share of such a project may be made in cash, through the forgiveness of State tax imposed on a railroad or through the provision, by the State or by an individual or entity on behalf of the State, of real or personal tangible property for use in its rail service assistance program. Sets forth a formula for computing the dollar amount of assistance which may be made available to a State for rail freight assistance. Sets forth the eligibility requirements for funding rail service assistance projects. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations establishing criteria for determining the ratio of benefits to costs of proposed projects eligible for specified assistance under such Act. Requires States to use the Federal rail rehabilitation assistance provided under such Act in a specified manner. Directs States to make grants or loans to the owners of rail properties or the operators of rail service related to such a rehabilitation project.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

10 April 1978
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
Source: IntroReferral
10 April 1978
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
10 April 1978
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
11 August 1978
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce with amendment, H. Rept. 95-1482.
Source: Committee
11 August 1978
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce with amendment, H. Rept. 95-1482.
Source: Committee
11 October 1978
Floor
Measure called up by special rule in House.
Source: Floor
13 October 1978
Floor
Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
Source: Floor
13 October 1978
Passed
Measure passed House, amended.
Source: Floor
13 October 1978
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended.
Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

2 official files

Laid on table in House
summary · EN · 13 October 1978
Open at official source
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 10 April 1978
Open at official source

Related records

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/95th-congress/house-bill/11979
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/95/hr/11979
us · 95-hr-11979 · source updated 2 September 2025