NRC highlights 2019 Railroad Day on Capitol Hill events

Congresswoman Angie Craig with NRC members RailWorks and Loram, as well as representatives from Canadian Pacific, GoRail and the AAR. | Photo courtesy of the NRC

More than 500 railroaders, contractors, suppliers and shippers visited Washington, D.C., May 8 to address federal representatives about the important role the rail industry plays in America’s economy.

The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) and its member companies met with more than 75 U.S. Senators and more than 200 Members of the U.S. House this year for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill, according to a statement from the association.

The NRC said it advocated for the passage of the shortline railroad tax credit, ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and also expressed support for a comprehensive federal infrastructure bill.

“Thank you to all Representatives and Senators for listening to our members and understanding the importance of the short line tax credit (H.R. 510 and S. 203) for the railroad and railroad construction industry,” NRC said. “There are now over 200 co-sponsors of H.R. 510, one of the most bi-partisan co-sponsored bills in the 116th Congress.”

The NRC also in a statement thanked House T&I Railroad Subcommittee Ranking Member Rick Crawford (R-AR-01) and House Financial Services Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Andy Barr (R-KY-06) for kicking off the morning for NRC attendees at a breakfast reception.

“Our NRC members got to hear firsthand a few intimate insights from these congressional leaders about a potential federal infrastructure bill, streamlining of federal permitting, and the importance of trade to the railroad industry,” NRC stated.

The NRC co-hosted the 2019 Railroad Day on Capitol Hill along with the American Short Line and Railroad Association, Association of American Railroads, Railway Supply Institute, Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association, Railway Systems Suppliers, Inc and the Railway Tie Association.