Thune Highlights Committee’s Railroad Policy Accomplishments, Receives Award

Both Thune and the committee’s ranking Democrat share honor of first-ever Railroad Achievement Award

May 10, 2017

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today spoke at an event held by the Association of American Railroads and GoRail. At the event, Sen. Thune and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), ranking member of the committee, received the first-ever Railroad Achievement Award for their demonstrated commitment to rail issues and leadership on the committee.

Thune provided the following statement on the committee’s accomplishments that led to the recognition:

“We were able to make last Congress the most productive two years for railroad policy that I can remember – from enactment of the FAST Act, which included a reauthorization of Amtrak, increased rail safety, and improved infrastructure, to the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act, which was the first reform of the Board since its creation 20 years ago.”

“These successes are not only a victory for freight and passenger railroads and their shippers and passengers, but for the entire U.S. economy.”