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FEDERALhearing transcript
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1979 Senate Hearings on Railroad Deregulation (S. 796)

Original title: Railroad deregulation act of 1979. Part 3: hearings before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, on S. 796 ...

July 20, 2026

transportationrailroadsderegulationfederal legislation

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The Frame

What this does

The hearings document the legislative process for S. 796, which proposed significant changes to how the federal government regulates railroad rates, services, and competition, impacting the national logistics and freight industry.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Railroad industry companies

The proposed legislation would change federal oversight of their rates and operational practices.

Freight shippers

Changes to railroad regulation would impact the costs and availability of shipping services.

What changed

Last recorded activity July 20, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of the third part of Senate hearings regarding the Railroad Act of 1979 (S. 796). It records testimony and discussions before the on Surface Transportation concerning proposed changes to federal railroad oversight.

Key Facts

  • The document is Part 3 of a series of hearings regarding S. 796.
  • The hearings were held during the first session of the 96th Congress.
  • The primary focus is the proposed deregulation of the railroad industry.
  • The proceedings were conducted by the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation.

Why It Matters

The hearings document the legislative process for S. 796, which proposed significant changes to how the federal government regulates railroad rates, services, and competition, impacting the national logistics and freight industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of these hearings?
The hearings were held to gather testimony and information regarding the proposed Railroad Act of 1979 (S. 796).
Who conducted these hearings?
The hearings were conducted by the on Surface Transportation of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Transition to Market-Based Rail Regulation

The hearings represent a pivotal moment in the shift from heavy federal rate regulation to market-based pricing for the railroad industry.

S. 796

Connected Entities

organizationSubcommittee on Surface Transportation“The congressional body conducting the hearings.”Map →
organizationCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation“The parent committee overseeing the subcommittee.”Map →
organizationUnited States Senate“The legislative body hosting the hearings.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz5
    Current news / social attention level

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