SR13,1,63 Whereas, freight rail service in Wisconsin is vital to the health of our state's
4economy, with major impacts on agriculture, forest products, utilities, and
5manufacturing, affecting consumer pocketbooks, as well as economic development
6and jobs; and

SR13,1,97 Whereas, in 1980, when Congress deregulated most railroad activities, the
8United States had 40 major railroads, but today there are only 7 Class I railroads and
94 of those control 90 percent of the nation's freight rail traffic; and

SR13,1,1310 Whereas, the concentration of rail service among fewer carriers has led to more
11"captive shippers," customers with one railroad as their only transportation option,
12and has recently led to dramatically increasing transportation costs for rail service
13to bulk commodity industries; and

SR13,2,214 Whereas, the freight rail industry enjoys both freedom from extensive federal
15regulation and an exemption from the federal antitrust laws, creating an

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1uncompetitive environment that hampers the development of competitive forces
2that might restrain transportation price increases; and

SR13,2,73 Whereas, electric power suppliers to Wisconsin consumers are a key component
4of a healthy Wisconsin economy, and heavily rely upon rail service for fuel delivery,
5and they are incurring dramatically increased rail service costs and a declining
6quality of rail service with utilities reporting near doubling of rail rates for moving
7coal to electric generators; and

SR13,2,108 Whereas, higher rail rates and deteriorating service have greatly affected
9agriculture, the state's number one industry, by restraining the ability of our state's
10farmers to remain competitive in the global marketplace; and

SR13,2,1411 Whereas, Wisconsin Representative Mark Green has authored, and Wisconsin
12Representative Tammy Baldwin has cosponsored, H.R. 3318, a bill to repeal the
13antitrust exemption applicable to the freight rail industry, a privilege enjoyed by
14very few American businesses; now, therefore, be it