Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007

To amend the Federal antitrust laws to provide expanded coverage and to eliminate exemptions from such laws that are contrary to the public interest with respect to railroads.

3/22/2007--Introduced.
Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007 - Amends the Clayton Act to grant the United States exclusive authority to bring suit for injunctive relief against a common carrier that is not a rail common carrier subject to the jurisdiction the Surface Transportatio more...n Board (STB). Revises provisions prohibiting anticompetitive transactions except for those approved by specified federal agencies acting under certain statutes to eliminate the exemption for certain STB approved transactions. Provides that, in any civil action against a rail common carrier, the U.S. district court shall not be required to defer to the primary jurisdiction of the STB. Empowers the Federal Trade Commission to regulate, and engage in antitrust enforcement regarding, collective rate agreements and certain transactions, including railroad mergers and acquisitions. Applies to rail common carriers subject to STB jurisdiction requirements governing the amount of recovery or prejudgment interest (treble damages) by injured persons, without regard to whether:
(1) such railroads have filed rates; or
(2) a complaint has been filed that challenges a rate. Amends federal transportation law to terminate the exemptions from antitrust laws for collective ratemaking agreements. Requires the STB, and other reviewing agencies, when reviewing a proposed agreement, to take into account its impact upon shippers, consumers, and affected communities. Revises STB authority to provide that a rail carrier, corporation, or a person participating in an approved transaction is not exempt from specified antitrust laws.

Sponsor

• Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2]
• and 22 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Rodney Alexander [R, LA-5]
  • Rep. Richard Baker [R, LA-6]
  • Rep. Robert Berry [D, AR-1]
  • Rep. Jo Bonner [R, AL-1]
  • Rep. Dan Boren [D, OK-2]
  • Rep. Keith Ellison [D, MN-5]
  • Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen [R, NJ-11]
  • Rep. E. Scott Garrett [R, NJ-5]
  • Rep. Paul Gillmor [R, OH-5]
  • Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
  • Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [D, SD-0]
  • Rep. Bob Inglis [R, SC-4]
  • Rep. Steve Kagen [D, WI-8]
  • Rep. Ronald Kind [D, WI-3]
  • Rep. Ed Perlmutter [D, CO-7]
  • Rep. Collin Peterson [D, MN-7]
  • Rep. Earl Pomeroy [D, ND-0]
  • Rep. Rick Renzi [R, AZ-1]
  • Rep. Mike Ross [D, AR-4]
  • Rep. Victor Snyder [D, AR-2]
  • Rep. Timothy Walz [D, MN-1]
  • Rep. Zach Wamp [R, TN-3]
  close

Committees

• House Transportation and Infrastructure
• 4 more
  • House Judiciary
  • House Energy and Commerce
  • House Energy and Commerce
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.1650

Number	Status	Purpose

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Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
March 22, 2007

Related Bills:

• S.772

Related Issue Areas:

• Business
• Actions and defenses
• Antitrust law
• Damages
• 7 more
• Injunctions
• Law
• Limitation of actions
• Railroad freight operations
• Railroad mergers
• Railroad rates
• Transportation

In the News

May 06, 2008 ‘Broken monopoly’

By MARVIN BAKER, Staff Writer mbaker@minotdailynews.com The Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007 (HR 1650 and companion bill S. 772) repeals the ...

Source: Minot Daily News, ND
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May 02, 2008 Railroad antritrust legislation passed by House Judiciary Committee

The legislation, entitled, HR 1650: The Railroad Enforcement Act of 2007, would create a dual regulatory system for our nation’s railroad industry and ...

Source: Logistics Management, MA
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April 30, 2008 Railroad antitrust exemption nears end of line

The US House Judiciary Committee today passed the bipartisan Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007 (HR 1650), legislation introduced by Representatives ...

Source: Bismarck Farm & Ranch Guide,  USA
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Blog Coverage

May 09, 2008 Transportation Headlines for Friday May 8, 2008

HR 1650 - Re-regulation and Increased Burdens for Freight Rail A Fix for Something that isn't Broken http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/archive/2008/05/07/6989.aspx Transit Sleuth ...

Source: Metro Library and Archive Transportation Headlines
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May 08, 2008 Can reliable, profitable rail service be saved?

The Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007 (HR1650) would effectively undo specific and narrow antitrust process exemptions that were provided for the railroads by the Staggers Rail Act of 1980. The Staggers act effectively halted ...

Source: gold money news
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May 06, 2008 HR1650 Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007

To amend the Federal antitrust laws to provide expanded coverage and to eliminate exemptions from such laws that are contrary to the public interest with respect to railroads.

Source: Open Congress : Top 20 Bills Most Written...
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