On the recordJune 20, 2012
I rise today to urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment. Senator Hoeven of North Dakota is a cosponsor, and this helps address the transportation needs of rural America. This amendment simply calls for a study on rural transportation and takes a close look at the issue of captive shippers. Farmers, energy producers, and manufacturers who depend on freight rail service find themselves trapped today in a back-to-the-future world, struggling with a problem that has resurfaced from a century ago. Many of these end users--these captive customers--have only one railroad to serve them. Three decades ago there were 63 class I railroads and today only 7 remain. This amendment simply looks at the effect this situation has on transportation in rural areas. It is supported by nearly 40 national and regional agricultural and energy organizations. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I ask for a voice vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
