Rail’s role in recovery includes record investments, job hires

Business and labor leaders, government officials and rail industry employees around the country are meeting on Capitol Hill for Railroad Day on the Hill in support of policies that enable the freight rail industry to create jobs, continue record infrastructure investments, keep U.S. businesses globally competitive and aid America's economy recovery. "Americans whose livelihoods depend on a healthy rail industry want Congress to know that freight rail is working for our country and carrying the load so taxpayers don't have to," said Association of American Railroads' President and CEO Edward Hamberger Rail advocates support investment incentives such as the Section 45G tax credit, which aids small local shortline railroads and the Section 130 program, which provides dedicated funds to states for grade crossing safety projects. Participants oppose proposals to increase the size and weight of trucks on our nation's highways, which would cause significant damage to our nation's highway infrastructure and divert traffic away from environmentally friendly-freight railroads. "In addition to 175,000 rail industry jobs, our nation's freight railroads directly support over 150,000 manufacturing jobs in the railway supply industry," said Tom Simpson, president of the Railway Supply Institute. Participants in the annual event include the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, Association of American Railroads, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Inc., Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association, Railway Supply Institute, Railway Systems Suppliers Inc., Railway Tie Association, Transportation Communications International Union, Sheet Metal Workers' International Association, United Transportation Union and other rail industry groups.