Thune to Hold Hearing on Freight Rail System Tomorrow in Sioux Falls
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee field hearing titled “Freight Rail Reform: Implementation of the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015” tomorrow, August 11, at 1:30 p.m. CDT/2:30 p.m. EDT in Sioux Falls.
The hearing will focus on implementation of the recently enacted Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act, the first reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) since its creation two decades ago. Sen. Thune introduced this legislation to make the STB more efficient and effective. The hearing continues the committee’s oversight work to help ensure a competitive, efficient, and reliable national rail system.
Witnesses:
First Panel
· Mr. Michael Skuodas, Vice President of Distribution and Business Development, POET
· Mr. Troy Knecht, Vice President, South Dakota Corn Growers Association
· Mr. Tom Heller, Chief Executive Officer, Missouri River Energy Services
· Mr. Dan Mack, Vice President of Transportation and Terminal Operations, CHS, Inc.
Second Panel
· The Honorable Daniel R. Elliott III, Chairman, Surface Transportation Board
· The Honorable Deb Miller, Vice Chairman, Surface Transportation Board
· The Honorable Ann D. Begeman, Board Member, Surface Transportation Board
* Witness list subject to change
Hearing Details:
Thursday, August 11, 2016
1:30 p.m. CDT / 2:30 p.m. EDT
Full Committee Hearing
Carnegie Town Hall
235 West 10th Street
Sioux Falls, S.D.
Witness testimony and Sen. Thune’s opening statement will be available on www.commerce.senate.gov.
###
Funny how you would hold an STB hearing about rail freight and not invite the rail companies. Nobody appears to be on the list from CN, CP, BNSF, and UP. Most certainly a dog and pony show.
Nonymous, I’m sure they will be here and personally I like the focus on users being able to give their testimony here. The rail providers can have their day another day. People argue about alot of issues and items which can have huge significance in jobs, disposable income, and access to basic goods and services get underplayed. This is one of those huge issues which gets insignificant attention and frankly I blame us the voter more than Congress because when Congress gets distracted away from issues like this its because “we the people” are howling about matters of practical and relative insignificance.
Thanks Senator Thune for bringing these people here to talk about a real issue that affects everyone, especially our #1 industry.
Les keep moving those tracks with taxpayers money.