U.S. Chamber of Commerce

New Legislation Introduced to Stop Calif. Locomotive Regulations

On May 5, Congressmen John Moolenaar (R-MI), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Craig Goldman (R-TX) introduced the Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives Act (the LOCOMOTIVES Act), which aims to “limit the State of California’s ability to place unsustainable regulations on trains crossing into the state.”

Georgia Ports Authority is using $120 million in federal grants for electrical and rail infrastructure improvement projects. (GPA Photograph)

Small-Road Briefs: G&W, Watco

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) receives a $26.5 million federal grant for the Colonel’s Island Rail Improvements project, which is supported by Genesee & Wyoming (G&W). Also, Watco helps bring a building materials customer to Oklahoma and lands three awards for rail infrastructure projects.

“We’re proud to support construction technology that helps communities build transit projects more quickly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Coalition of Organizations Call for DOT to Set Up Freight Office

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), along with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are calling for the establishment of the Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy, or Freight Office.

KCS’s Ottensmeyer U.S. Chairman, U.S.-Mexico Economic Council

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCOC) has named Kansas City Southern President and CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer as U.S. Chairman of its U.S.-Mexico Economic Council (USMXECO). Ottensmeyer will preside over the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue, which occurs twice annually, and he will oversee the Council’s extensive agenda of engagement with public- and private-sector leaders in the U.S. and Mexico in an effort to strengthen bilateral commercial ties.