The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Senate Field Hearing on Rail Shipping and Small Business
Record date · January 1, 2019
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What This Bill Does
The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a in New Orleans to discuss how rail shipping regulations impact small businesses and the broader economy. Industry experts, government officials, and business representatives provided testimony on the challenges and operational realities of relying on rail transport.
This hearing gathered testimony from industry stakeholders to inform potential future federal oversight or policy adjustments regarding rail shipping costs and logistics for small businesses.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Small business owners
Small businesses that rely on rail transport for shipping goods are subject to the regulatory and operational environment discussed.
Railroad companies
Railroad operators are subject to the federal regulations and oversight discussed during the hearing.
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on November 16, 2018, at the Port of New Orleans Auditorium.
- The session was a field hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- The hearing focused on the role of railroads in supporting small business commercial success.
- Witnesses included representatives from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Olin Corporation, Solvay America, Inc., New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
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- Written testimony was submitted by all panelists prior to the hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Regional Focus on Rail Logistics
The committee moved the hearing to New Orleans, indicating a specific interest in the intersection of port logistics and rail shipping for small businesses.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz5Current news / social attention level
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