Association of American Railroads (AAR) president and CEO Ian Jefferies released the following statement regarding Chairman DeFazio’s newly released surface transportation reauthorization bill – the INVEST in America Act.

“America’s railroads are extremely disappointed in the House surface transportation reauthorization released today. When all of us should be working together toward common-sense solutions, this partisan legislation falls far short of what this moment demands.

“Smart policies have helped railroads continue to deliver for their customers during this pandemic. Now is not the time to retreat from these much less impose wish list policy riders or unnecessary operational requirements, such as mandating crew size, barring the streamlining of operations, and constraining the already limited capacity of the rail network.

“Now more than ever – we can and must do better together.”