45 U.S.C. § 1101 : US Code - Section 1101: Congressional findings and declarations

Search 45 U.S.C. § 1101 : US Code - Section 1101: Congressional findings and declarations

The Congress finds and declares that -
(1) the processes set in motion by the Regional Rail
Reorganization Act of 1973 [45 U.S.C. 701 et seq.] have failed to
create a self-sustaining railroad system in the Northeast region
of the United States and have cost United States taxpayers many
billions of dollars over original estimates;
(2) current arrangements for the provision of rail freight and
commuter service in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the
United States are inadequate to meet the transportation needs of
the public and the needs of national security;
(3) although the Federal Government has provided billions of
dollars in assistance for Conrail and its employees, the Federal
interest in ensuring the flow of interstate commerce through rail
service in the private sector has not been achieved, and the
protection of interstate commerce requires Federal intervention
to preserve essential rail service in the private sector;
(4) the provisions for protection of employees of bankrupt
railroads contained in the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of
1973 [45 U.S.C. 701 et seq.] have resulted in the payment of
benefits far in excess of levels anticipated at the time of
enactment, have imposed an excessive fiscal burden on the Federal
taxpayer, and are now an obstacle to the establishment of
improved rail service and continued rail employment in the
Northeast region of the United States; and
(5) since holding Conrail liable for employee protection
payments would destroy its prospects of becoming a profitable
carrier and further injure its employees, an alternative employee
protection system must be developed and funded.