A bill to amend the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to facilitate the transfer of rail properties of the Consolidated Rail Corporation in the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island to another rail carrier.
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
Declares that the termination of rail service by the Consolidated Rail Corporation (ConRail) in the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island would threaten the economies of those States and have a severe impact on the rail labor force. Amends the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop a proposal for transferring the ConRail rail properties located in the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island to another railroad in the region or, alternatively, to any interested person. Directs the Secretary to offer such properties for bid to such other railroads or interested persons. Specifies requirements to be met by such bidders and the factors to be considered by the Secretary in selecting a bid. Sets forth procedures by which the Secretary petitions for special court approval of a bid. Lists facts to be considered by the special court in determining whether the proposed purchase is in the public interest. Directs the court to: (1) approve such purchase if it is in the public interest; (2) direct ConRail and the acquiring railroad or person to finalize the transaction; and (3) set forth provisions requiring the acquiring party to provide an arrangement, with specified provisions, which protects the interests of employees affected by the purchase. Establishes guidelines to be followed in determining the price paid for any ConRail properties transferred under this Act. Specifies methods of judicial review for certain determinations of the Secretary and the special court.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on April 1, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on April 1, 1980: Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
CHRISTOPHER DODD (D-CT) introduced it on April 1, 1980, and 5 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 4 Democrats, 1 Republican.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on April 1, 1980, 16963 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16963 days ago, on April 1, 1980.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers