A bill to amend the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to authorize appropriations for the United States Railway Association for fiscal year 1979.
Public Law 95-611 · H.R. 10898 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 8, 1978 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Rep. Frederick Rooney (D-PA-15)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(House agreed to Senate amendments with amendment (See H. Res. 1433))
Amends the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to authorize appropriations for the United States Railway Association for fiscal year 1979.
Authorizes such funds to remain available until expended.
Provides that members of the United States Railway Association Board of Directors shall continue to serve after the expiration of their terms of office until their terms of office until their successors have been appointed and qualified.
Allows the United States Railway Association, where it determines that continuation of rail service by certain railroads is desirable, to: (1) continue to make advances on certain loans up to the total principal provided, upon finding that good faith efforts have been commenced by such railroads toward establishment of employee stock ownership plans; and (2) increase the principal amount of such loans, up to a specified limit, if such railroads have in effect approved employee stock ownership plans.
Amends the Emergency Rail Services Act to allow the Secretary to waive certain required findings for guarantee of certificates to enable certain bankrupt railroads to maintain services.
Extends for three years the time States may negotiate with the Consolidated Railroad (ConRail) System for the purchase of surplus railroad trackage.
Amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act to provide that certain extensions of time in extraordinary situations can be granted if a majority of Commissioners agree thereto by public vote.
Requires the Secretary to conduct an investigation and study, to determine equitable rental charges for Alaska Railroad lands and to report the results to Congress within one year.
Stipulates that, prior to 180 days after such report is received by Congress, such rental charges shall not be increased by more than 100 percent of the amount charged on January 1, 1977.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.
- Nov 8, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-611.
- Oct 27, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 15, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 14, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Oct 13, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment (See H. Res. 1433).
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment, (See H. Res. 1433).
- Sep 14, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Aug 17, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #723 (253-67).House roll call 723
- May 15, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Feb 9, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.