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Local Rail Service Reauthorizing Act

Public Law 101-213 · H.R. 422 · 101st Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Dec 11, 1989 · Transportation and Public Works

Sponsor: Rep. Ron Wyden (D-OR-3)

Cosponsors (23): Rep. James Florio,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Local Rail Service Reauthorizing Act - Amends the Department of Transportation Act with respect to local rail service assistance to authorize appropriations for FY 1989 through 1990. Requires each State to apply for assistance for FY 1990 within 60 days after enactment of this Act.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish procedures to ensure that funds for rail assistance projects are distributed by April 1, 1990.

Repeals a specified provision of the Conrail Privatization Act relating to compliance by the Consolidated Rail Corporation with certain requirements for the declaration of dividends on common or preferred stock of such Corporation.

Sets forth eligibility criteria for Federal assistance to States for rail freight assistance projects. Sets forth the uses of such assistance.

Declares the Federal share of rail freight assistance project costs shall be 50 percent. Provides that the Federal share of costs to rehabilitate rail properties for the purpose of facilitating rail freight service shall be 70 percent.

Entitles each State on the first day of the fiscal year to a specified amount of funds appropriated for State rail service assistance to meet the cost of implementing State plans for rail services in such State.

Requires each rail carrier to submit annually to the Secretary a listing of its rail lines which carry five million gross ton miles of freight or less per mile during the previous year. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 for State freight assistance programs.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.

  1. Dec 11, 1989Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-213.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Dec 1, 1989PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 19, 1989FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Nov 17, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
  8. FloorFloor · Mr. Tauke demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
  9. FloorFloor · Mr. Luken, Thomas moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  10. Mar 22, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Transportation and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Transportation and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
  12. Feb 6, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Transportation and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
  13. Jan 3, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
  14. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.